We have all heard of these fad diets that come and go and the diets that have come and have stayed awhile for whatever reason it may be. Do we trust these diets that have stayed awhile or are they going to eventually fade too? What diets are good and which ones work, or which ones are actually unhealthy? There are a few diets I have done a lot of research on and want you to know the truth and the good, the bad, and the ugly.
So in this blog, I will explain one diet right now that I have done a lot of research on and will explain it in detail and then the next blog will be on some other ones. This particular diet is the Mediterranean Diet that is really popular now and has been for a little while now. This diet is probably one of my favorites, and maybe the best one you can follow. I don’t believe it’s a fad diet and I don’t believe it is going away. There has been too many people that have benefited from this diet and the research is very compelling and you can’t argue with success. The people from the Mediterranean are proof that it’s one of the best ways to eat. Really, this is not a diet per se (technically, from all sense of the word, diet means what the body consumes), but just a way of eating. The word “diet” was started in the Eighties with all the fad “diets” coming out to help people lose weight! In a previous blog, I believe I had mentioned that I don’t like the word “diet” and do not agree with them. Just consume a balanced meal and food schedule and you will be fine and healthy and get all the nutrients your body needs.
I would like to mention what the Mediterranean is and why it is so popular. First the Mediterranean is a geographical region that includes France, Portugal, Italy, Spain, Greece, Malta, and Cyprus and maybe some other smaller countries. The main food source for this region is fish, nuts, plant oils and fruits/vegetables. They rarely eat red meat, sugar, and saturated fat. This “diet” was chosen as the Best Heart-Healthy Diet and Best Diabetes Diet for 2022 (mayoclinic.org) as well as the Best Overall Diet for the fifth year in a row!
According to the mayoclinic.org, “The Mediterranean diet is an eating pattern that has been around for a very long time. It is more of an eating style that incorporates ingredients that are traditionally eaten by people who reside along the banks of the Mediterranean Sea”. In addition to the information above, the Mayo clinic goes on to say that “over the last 50 years, the Mediterranean diet has become one of the world’s most well-studied eating patterns, and research has shown it has many health benefits. Eating a diet that is low in red meat, sugar, and saturated fat significantly reduces your risk of chronic health conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes”. https://diet.mayoclinic.org/us/blog/2022/why-is-the-mediterranean-diet-so-good-for-you/
This way of eating is more about the types of foods you’re eating and not so much on counting calories or trying to stick to diet rules. Some of the diets out there today have too many restrictions, rules, what to leave in, and what to leave out. It’s too confusing for the consumer. The Mediterranean style of eating the consumer just eats a balanced diet full of healthy fruits/vegetables, some lean meat, and a little bit of grains. Nothing fancy really.
I hope this has helped you in finding a good “diet” to follow or maybe just gave you some ideas of a different style of eating to stay healthy or just get started on the right track.
As always, thanks for reading my blog and I hope this has helped with your health and fitness journey.
Stay healthy and happy,
Darren
Harmony Shift 