THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET The Mediterranean diet is generally considered to be one of the healthiest diets. For example, one ten year study showed that the people who eat this type of diet and live a healthy life style have 50% reduction in death rates, secondary to a reduction in cardiovascular illness. Simply stated individuals who followed this diet have fewer heart attacks and fewer strokes. The Mediterranean diet consists of eating large portions of plant foods, fruits and vegetables; with olive oil as the principal source of fat. Dairy products are allowed, primarily cheese and yogart. Meat can be eaten but only in low to moderate quantities with fish or chicken as the primary meats. Red meat is eaten only in very small quantities. The deserts are usually fruits and deserts high in calories and sugar are rarely eaten. Total fat content is 25% to 35% of the total calories with saturated fats less than 8% of the calories. The diet is high in 3 omega fatty acids. But is the Mediterranean diet a good diet for people who suffer from allergic illnesses like asthma, eczema or allergic rhinitis? A few studies, primarily in Eskimos who eat a diet very high in 3 omega fatty, suggest that diets high in 3 omega fatty acids may reduced the frequency of allergic illnesses. Whereas, the Mediterranean diet is high in 3 omega fatty and no other type of diet or type of diet is more likely to help reduced the frequency of allergic illness, the Mediterranean diet is a healthy choice for people with asthma and allergic rhinitis. People with food allergy or food hypersensitivity must always remember to avoid the food or foods to which they react regardless of any other health effects. It is also important to remember that eating too much is almost as harmful as eating the wrong foods. It was once said that we eat ½ for our benefit and ½ for the doctor’s benefit. Eating the proper quantities of food is always important to stay healthy. A healthy lifestyle is also important to reap the full benefits of a healthy diet. More to come on that later.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:24:21 +0000
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