The typical Western diet is full of saturated fats, sugar and processed food items. We tend to eat foods that aren’t even found in nature; it’s no wonder that people are suffering from obesity and chronic illness due to their diets. Recently, studies have found that eating a Mediterranean diet can reverse the damage caused by a Western diet. How can your health benefit from a Mediterranean diet? Here are 5 ways:
Reverse Heart Disease
The leading cause of death in the United States is heart disease; research shows that a Mediterranean diet reduces the chance of heart disease. A series of studies done on 1.5 million adults showed that people who followed the diet were less likely to die of heart disease. Replacing saturated fats with good fats will lower your bad cholesterol; it will also raise your good cholesterol, all of which benefits your heart.
Increase Life Span
A study done at Harvard showed that the Mediterranean diet was correlated with a longer life. The people eating Mediterranean food in Boston were less likely to suffer from diabetes and chronic disease. It makes sense that eating more fruits, vegetables, and good fats will cause you to live longer. The study also showed that people on the diet had marked improvements in their stress levels; a lowered stress level tends to increase a person’s lifespan. The aforementioned study even showed fewer incidents of cancer among those who adhere to the diet, and cancer is another huge mortality factor.
Reduce Inflammation
As we age, our bodies tend to become more susceptible to inflammation; this inflammation is the cause of many sicknesses and ailments. When you eat a Mediterranean diet, you reduce or cure most of the inflammation in your body; this means aches, pains, arthritis and heart disease all go away. Studies have shown this reduction and researchers theorize that this is part of the reason the Mediterranean diet is so good for heart health
Stop Alzheimer’s Disease
One study showed that eating a Mediterranean diet caused a marked improvement in people who suffered from Alzheimer’s. Although the studies are new, many experts are impressed enough to do more research on the subject. They believe that there is a link between diet and the prevention of cognitive loss. Further studies seem to confirm the findings and more research is being done on the topic.
Prevent And Cure Type II Diabetes
Diabetics who follow a Mediterranean diet benefit greatly; it stands to reason that the diet also helps prevent diabetes as well. The Mediterranean diets cuts out a lot of processed foods and sugars; this reduces a person’s chance of diabetes by more than 20 percent. The diet also helps individuals reach and maintain a healthy weight, and weight is a big factor in the prevention and control of Type II Diabetes.
If you adopt a diet full of lean meats, fruits, vegetables and healthy fats, you are well on your way to a long and happy life. There are many benefits that come along with eating a Mediterranean style diet, but the 5 listed above are some of the major ones. When you make the switch, you will lose weight, feel better and prevent disease. It doesn’t get much better than that!