Mediterranean Diet: The Diet that Boosts Brain Power
If you’re looking for a healthy eating plan to promote fat loss, Mediterranean diet might just be the thing! It doesn’t just keep you lean, but may also boost your brain function. That’s according to the researchers at the University of Alabama. They found that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids may help preserve your memory and thinking abilities.
What is Mediterranean Diet All About?
Many people consider it a diet plan, but for some, Mediterranean diet is more of a lifestyle. Whilst most eating plans cover a wide range of fruits, vegetables, fish and whole grains, it is also important to take into consideration the amount and proportion of the food you’re eating for optimum results.
The Mediterranean diet emphasises eating plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and legumes, replacing butter with healthy fats like olive oil and canola oil, using herbs and spices to add flavour to various dishes, eating fish and poultry at least twice per week, drinking red wine in moderation, and limiting consumption of red meat to no more than a few times each month. Grains cultivated in the Mediterranean regions are mostly whole grains and contain very few amounts of unhealthy fats. Bread is also an important part of the diet. But unlike in other countries, bread is eaten plain or dipped in olive oil, not in butter or margarine which both contain saturated and trans fats.
Mediterranean Diet and Cognitive Decline
In another study published in the prestigious journal Neurology, scientists analysed 30,239 people over 45 years old who were using the Mediterranean diet. The participants were followed for four-and-a-half years and were assessed of how well they adhered to it.
The researchers found that those who closely followed the Mediterranean diet were 19 per cent less likely to develop memory and thinking problems than those who did not. However, individuals with diabetes did not seem to benefit from this diet style. The research team, which was led by Dr Georgios Tsivgoulis, did not cite reasons why diabetics did not improve their condition even after following the Mediterranean diet. However, one can assume that diabetes is a serious life-long condition that results from years of dietary transgressions. The cellular and metabolic changes that spring from diabetes require more intense treatments than simply changing eating habits.
Other Benefits of Mediterranean Diet
Apart from boosting your brain power, incorporating the Mediterranean diet in your lifestyle can bring you many other health benefits, one of which is a healthier heart. This eating plan has been linked to a lower level of bad cholesterol – a risk factor for heart disease. According to a study published in the online journal New England Journal of Medicine, about 30 per cent of strokes, heart attacks and deaths from heart disease can be prevented if people switch to a Mediterranean diet that is rich in olive oil, fish, beans, fruits and vegetables. Low-fat diet was shown to be less effective in lowering the risk of heart disease as compared to the Mediterranean style.
Even though the Mediterranean diet can help, it is not the sole factor for good health. Alongside a balanced diet, there are other important ways to maintain health and well-being and these are exercising, avoiding obesity and not smoking.
Can you cite other benefits of Mediterranean diet? Post your comment below.
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