Many will agree that sticking to a diet is essential to health maintenance, but it could be possible that we’re choosing the wrong types of diets. There are so many cringeworthy diet plans swimming around in the “health” world that it can become difficult to determine what actually is healthy. Long story short, though, if you find health advice online instructing you to swallow a tapeworm or consume only apple cider vinegar for a week, you’ve probably hit the wrong database of information.
When it comes to eating healthy, the best choice is to make sure you eat, first of all. Starving yourself or under-eating can lead to more severe unhealthy choices, unhealthy weight, and even cyclical problems like eating disorders. In order to get a happy medium of cutting back and still being able to eat some foods you enjoy, you should go for a healthier diet plan, one that has varying food groups and proportion guides.
So, when people try out fad diets, I am always amazed to see their surprise or disappointment at the first sign of no success. And here’s why: the Mediterranean Diet has been around for ages. It’s origins trace back centuries ago to an older form of the diet in countries like Italy and Greece, though it did not gain more acknowledgment in places like America until probably the mid-twentieth century.
The thing that I love about the Mediterranean Diet is that at first glance, it doesn’t seem like a daunting diet full of disgusting or bland foods. This diet supports a healthy heart and healthy skin, all the while providing rich doses of antioxidants and focusing on the consumption of healthy fats. I would say that one of the best parts about the diet is that most of the foods taste good.
The foundation of the Mediterranean Diet relies on foods relative to the Mediterranean region. It focuses on replacing red meat – which is very unhealthy for your heart and blood pressure – with white meat, or even better, fish. Fish is doted as being a great supporter of heart health, and the omega fatty acids found in it are way better for you than the fats and cholesterol found in red meat.
Another foundation of the diet is the strong emphasis on consuming healthy oils and fats. Olives are an old and long-used elixir of health in this diet, and the consumption of olive oil, since it is an unsaturated fat, is arguably the only kind of oil you should be cooking or eating with.
It tastes good with most things, and while a little more expensive than butter or margarine, it’s health benefits spread far and wide to your skin and hair health.
The Mediterranean Diet also suggests eating healthy alternatives like only whole versions of grains, fruits, and nuts for adequate protein. Altogether, I think this diet is a great alternative to fad diets, and it’s a great example of how eating healthy doesn’t have to be gross.
