The Mediterranean Diet

Most people who mention the Mediterranean diet are really talking about a diet created by Walter Willett. The diet includes wine, red meat, olive oil, eggs, fish, poultry and a healthy amount of physical activity. The diet strictly control fat so that only a total of about 35% of calories come from fat. For this reason it's categorized as a low fat, high fiber diet. It became popular in the 1990's, but the Mediterranean diet has been around since 1945.

The Mediterranean diet substitutes olive oil in place of animal fats used by many Americans. The benefits of olive oil are well known – it helps control blood pressure and blood sugar. Studies show that olive oil helps prevent ulcers and is an effective treatment for certain types of ulcers, as well as important for preventing cancer. Red wine also adds to the mix in that it contains elements with antioxidant properties.

The American Heart Association recommends diets like the Mediterranean diet . However, the AHA frowns on the amount of fat allowed by the Mediterranean diet. The AHA points to the growing obesity problem in the Mediterranean region. The AHA does take solace in the fact that mono saturated fats such as those found in olive oil don't raise cholesterol levels. It could be that increased health in the basin comes from increased physical activity, rather than from diet.

Look around the Internet for more information on the Mediterranean diet.