the mediterranean diet | INDIGOMEMOIRS

March 6, 2013

The Mediterranean economies may be the losers in the crisis but they are definitely the winners for living a longer and healthier life?unless the crisis is tough so tough that Mediterraneans start dying from hunger and heart attacks.

Though I am not quite sure that an economic crisis can wipe out a lifestyle that existed for millennia and as far as I am aware, one can still find high quality, cheap food in Mediterranean countries.

Compared to other countries globally and especially to the Anglo-Saxon regions Mediterranean countries have kept the consumption of processed foods to a bare minimum.

These are communities whose modus vivendi has revolved around food, whose people have formed deep relationships with food and whose habits are tightly integrated with food related activities.

Partly this has to do with the fact that Mediterranean countries are blessed a with mild climate so even at times when only primitive preparation methods where known, food was delicious.

On the contrary, locals residing in northern countries never quite enjoyed their food as the harsh climate restricted the growth and variety of staples to a few tasteless vegetables. Hence their social activity revolved around the drinking- both to indulge and keep warm.

As a result, northern countries never developed the kind of eating habits Mediterranean countries did: to share many platters together with friends and family.

People living in Mediterranean countries have regular meal schedules and are less likely to snack.

Snacking is a bad Western habit that originates partly because from consuming meals irregularly, partly due to stress and partly since processed foods are so high in sugar that, by destabilizing the GI, make us crave for more food.

?Diet friendly processed foods? are fat free, but artificially sweetened to taste better. The problem of the fat-free hype is that many of us are trapped in the illusion that fats are bad for us, that they contribute to weight and they increase cholesterol.

Ofcorse all of the aforementioned is true if we take in consideration both only the caloric value of fats and cluster all kinds of fats in one categorie.

What we forget however is that our entire biochemistry runs using fuel from essential Omega-3 and Omega-6 fats- abundant in the foods from Mediterranean diet.

To consume essential oils we need to make sure that a significant proportion of our calories come from nuts, nut oils, vegetable and especially olive oil and oily fish such as salmon and mackerel.

The reason why we call these oils essential is because the only way for them to enter our body is through food consumption (our body does not produce essential oils). Essential oils reduce LDL cholesterol, lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and because of their high fiber content, maintain healthy digestive health.

We can be very creative with how to incorporate nuts into our diet; nuts taste great roasted and pair particularly well with salad dressings and pasta sauces.

Eating nuts together with salads and pasta dishes is also a perfect way of regulating the quantity of nuts we consume daily- as good as they we should also keep an eye on the calories.

Or simply follow the Mediterranean way: consume everything in moderation, chew slowly and enjoy your meals with friends and family.

Spanish beetroot and hazelnut salad
Serves four

Ingredients:

600 g baby beetroots*
Pinch of sea salt
100 g blanched, roughly chopped hazelnuts
50 ml extra virgin olive oil
15 ml hazelnut oil
4 tbsp. finely chopped chives
25 ml high quality Aceto Balsamico
Ground Black Pepper

*An easier way to prepare this recipe is to buy cooked beetroot.

?

Method:

1. If you bought pre-cooked beetroot skip this step. Otherwise, cut the tops of the beetroot and place the roots into a large pan with cold water. Add some salt, bring to the boil and cook for 20-30 min, until tender. Remove from heat and allow to cool down a little. Peel beetroots, and chop them into half moons

2. Chop the chives and the hazelnuts and mix them together with the olive and hazelnut oil. Season well with salt and black pepper

4. Arrange the beetroot on a plate and cover with the dressing.

Buen provecho!

Tags: essential oils, health, health benefits, mediterranean diet,

Source: http://www.indigomemoirs.com/2013/03/06/mediterranean-diet/

lin j.r. smith espn jeremy lin sleigh bells meek sturgis sturgis