The Mediterranean Diet

A lot of public health organizations such as the American Cancer Society (ACS), the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the American Heart Association (AHA), to name a few, recommend the inclusion of legumes in our diets to promote better health and to prevent the onset of various diseases. In fact, according to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, we should all be aiming to consume at least 3 cups of cooked legumes per week. However, some experts believe that we should aim for no less than 4 to 8 cups of legumes per week to get all the health benefits these small but mighty beans have in store for all of us.
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Why should you consume enough berries on a daily basis? Well, in a nutshell, berries are considered one of nature's so-called "superfoods". They contain significant amounts of the essential nutrients our bodies need to keep it in top condition. More importantly, they are considered one of the richest sources of polyphenols called flavonoids, one of the antioxidant compounds that help protect us from a number of modern day diseases.
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Yogurt helps maintain a healthy digestive system. According to the US Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, the benefits of yogurt include gut-friendly bacteria that can protect you against several gastrointestinal conditions including constipation, diarrhea, H. pylori infection, lactose intolerance, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colon cancer as well.
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According to the Mediterranean dietary guidelines, at least 50% of all your calorie requirements should come from plant-based foods. As such, fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts should comprise the bulk of your daily diet.
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Are you ready for yet another instalment on our continuing discussion regarding the most important Mediterranean diet herbs and spices used in preparing Mediterranean cuisine? If you are, get yourself a nice cup of tea and prepare to learn more about these antioxidant-rich food ingredients. Let’s get started! Oregano Did you know that besides giving [...]
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If you have read our previous article entitled Mediterranean Diet – Uncovering the All-Important Role of Herbs and Spices, you certainly know by now the very important role played by herbs and spices in the Mediterranean cuisine. Without a doubt, these herbs and spices contribute a lot in making the Mediterranean diet one of the [...]
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Have you ever wondered why herbs and spices are placed right at the base of the revised Mediterranean diet food pyramid? They have been clearly put there for a reason, that’s for sure. But why? To know the reason behind this move, let’s take a closer look at what these Mediterranean herbs and spices can [...]
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