5 Reasons You Should Follow A Mediterranean Diet

I was lucky enough to visit the islands of Greece just last year, and while there I had the pleasure of eating incredibly delicious food! Seriously, we ate and ate that vacation and never once did I feel bloated or heavily full. I came home and had practically gained no weight at all. It was this that convinced me to follow a Mediterranean diet of no red meat, healthy fats like olive and canola oils, and tons of leafy green vegetables. Since making the change, I feel so much better. If you’ve ever contemplated following a Mediterranean diet, but weren’t sure if you should make the plunge: here are five reasons why you should.

Because those following a Mediterranean diet eat less meat, processed foods, and refined bread, the risk of developing heart disease is much less. Not only that, but the Mediterranean diet encourages glasses of wine, instead of hard liquor, which is proven to help your heart stay healthy when drank in moderation.

When following the Mediterranean diet, you are more exposed to trace minerals and micronutrients. Both of these things in the right amounts can help keep you agile and active as you age. There’s a reason everyone in Greece can still move around like they did when they were kids!

The foods in the Mediterranean diet are said to improve cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels, and blood vessel health. Since Alzheimer’s disease is usually an advanced side effect of these illnesses, sticking to a Mediterranean diet can help you reduce your risk of developing the disease.

Many of the foods on a Mediterranean diet are high in fiber, which means that they digest slowly. Foods that digest slowly are less likely to create a “spike” in the blood sugar, keeping your levels even all day long.

Since this diet helps to reduce heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and the risk of stroke, adopting these eating habits will only increase your overall longevity. Who doesn’t want to eat well and live longer?