The Mediterranean Diet is one of the most recent and popular ways of losing weight, and it’s based on one of the most ancient ways of eating anywhere in the world. So named because of its origins around the Mediterranean region, the Mediterranean Diet today is frequently said to reflect the healthy culinary habits traditional to Greece in particular, where salads predominate and any meat is grilled, almost never fried.
Like much of Greek cuisine, the Mediterranean Diet focuses on dark leafy vegetables, fresh fruit, and high-fiber beans. Fats and protein comes from cheese, grilled meats and seafood, and of course olive oil.
Yogurt also forms a staple of this diet, as does nuts and grains. Such foods are encouraged by most doctors as immunity-boosting and cancer-fighting, cutting heart disease and diabetes risks substantially and almost immediately.
With these foods, one typically feels a lot more satisfied and less likely to binge-eat, some studies show. An important part of this Mediterranean or Greek way of consuming involves a lot smaller portions, which are also shared. But take care: a few classics of Greek cuisine can be highly fattening, too, for example the popular spanakopita, or spinach pie, which is loaded with butter and can contain as many calories as a bacon cheeseburger!
All in all, however, consuming in a Mediterranean manner is usually recognized by study after study as having significant advantages. Small wonder, then, that everybody from sedentary couch potatoes to competitive athletes follow this diet so enthusiastically! Of course, the best diet is the one that you can really stick with while helping you reach your goals, and the Mediterranean variety is no do-it-all miracle on its own. Depending on your particular circumstances, you might also need to augment proper nutrition with adequate exercise and rest. But there’s no better-tasting first step than some grilled and sautéed Greek staple to get you moving forward!