The Mediterranean diet has been linked, most recently, to the reduction of heart disease. The other more well-known benefits of eating a Mediterranean diet include lower rates of cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and obesity.
One Greek island, called Ikaria, became famous for becoming a Blue Zone. The Blue Zone is a region of the world where people tend to live unusually long and healthy lives. Within the past few years, scientists and journalists have been trying to unlock the mysteries of the island's oldest residents. Many of whom live to be over one-hundred years old.
A typical Greek diet consists mostly of fresh fruits and vegetables. It was discovered that people living in the Blue Zone consume potatoes, olives, and seasonal vegetables -- usually picked from their own vegetable patch.
Vegetables
Vegetables are a big part of every meal. They are often prepared and served raw in a salad or grilled and roasted with olive oil.
Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt is thick and creamy with about twice as much protein as regular yogurt. Most Greeks add walnuts and honey to their yogurt and eat it as a dessert after a big meal.
Legumes
Legumes are an excellent food for getting protein and fiber into your diet. There are endless possibilities and choices when it comes to beans.
Red Meat
Greeks eat Red Meat very infrequently. Red meat and pork are not eaten every day in a traditional Mediterranean diet.
Greek coffee
Greeks drink a lot of coffee. Longevity, on this Greek island, may have something to do with the amount of coffee they drink, not only what food they consume. Ikarians drink a great deal of coffee.
Scientists believe the coffee may have something to do with them having a better blood-vessel function which is a key factor for a healthy heart.
Greek coffee is boiled in a small brass or copper pot. Greek coffee is high in antioxidants and may offer more health benefits than conventionally brewed American coffee.
Healthiest in the world
Known to be one of the healthiest in the world, the Greek diet gets most of its protein from beans and legumes prepared and used in salads, stews, and soups. Small servings of cheese and yogurt, grains, seasonal fresh fruits, and lots of green vegetables make up most of their daily intake.
Olive oil
The Greeks treasure their olive oil like most people treasure gold! Olive oil is also lower than butter in saturated fat and therefore a healthier choice to cook with. It has been scientifically proven that the combination of olive oil and greens gives the Mediterranean diet its healthy benefits.
