Broccoli Rabe
- Protection from diabetes
Fiber that most of the foods helps in
digestion of sugars and thus fends off
diabetes.
- Prevention of heart disease and
stroke
Since the diet consists of little or no
refined dishes and red meat and advo-
cates for drinking of red wine, stroke, and
heart disease becomes very rare.
- Reduced cases of Alzheimer’s
Research has concluded that this diet
also improves “healthy” cholesterol,
blood sugar levels and blood vessel
health in general, which eventually
reduce cases of dementia.
- Keeps you agile and healthy
Many of those who have lived off this
food since childhood seldom exhibits
signs of muscle weakness.
You don’t have to be an Italian to appreciate dark, leafy greens,
especially the earthily bitter Broccoli that blends beautifully with
sausage, hot pepper, and anchovy. It is super nutritious, rich
in vitamin, calcium, potassium, and fiber. It also has carotenoids,
indoles, and isothiocyanates, all of which come in handy in fighting
cancer.
Chickpeas
Whoever said proteins can only be obtained from animal products
was probably lying. Chickpeas are some of the healthiest sources of
proteins and when consumed daily along with starches and grains
supply the body with folates, calcium, iron, and zinc too. It has fiber,
phytates, and phytosterols and thus prevents constipation.
However, the most recent studies on Chickpeas suggest that these
foods can come in handy in managing diabetes and preventing
colon cancer.
Eggplant
Many love eating this food because of its toothsome texture and
neutral flavor that go well with sauces. However, Eggplant is yet
another Mediterranean diet that gives a meaty satisfaction and
contains fiber and potassium. One of its primary benefits is how it
manages to fight cancer and common viral diseases.
Olive Oil
There’s no doubt that no Mediterranean diet is complete without a
squash of olive oil. It is prized since antiquity and has been used to
prepare vegetables to date. What makes olive oil the best for those
looking for healthy oil is the fact that it contains monounsaturated
fat and antioxidant polyphenols. Many even allude the low cases of
heart diseases throughout the Mediterranean to this food type.
Sample
Healthy Foods
from the
Mediterranean
region
Pepper
Whether eaten fresh or as dried, ground and made into complex
paste and sauces, pepper is an essential part of the Mediterranean
foods. It adds color to their meals aside from supplying vitamins A, C,
and K, fiber, folate, and beta-carotene. Red pepper mainly has
lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin with the former offering protection
against macular degeneration.
Shrimps
The rest of the world is increasingly starting to accept Shrimps as
healthy seafood, what people in the Mediterranean regions have
known for centuries. Just like shellfish and fish from the sea, Shrimps
are rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, proteins, niacin and
selenium.
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