We can all learn from the Greeks how to really practice healthy nutritional habits. They eat crusty whole-grain breads, fresh fish, and lush salads drenched with olive oil, and they drink wine in moderation. This all adds up to a long, healthy life that is worth living. We all learn from each other in much way, and healthy living is everything around which good life revolves.
Researchers discovered years ago that Greeks lived longer than people in other parts of the world. In 1960, for example, Greek men had a 90 percent lower risk of death from heart disease than men in the United Stales. Greek women had less than one-half the risk of breast cancer than their American counterparts.
These statistics motivated researchers to take a closer look at the Mediterranean Diet, and they discovered three main components that were largely responsible for this. It's important to note that the Mediterranean Diet is always simple, natural and biodegradable.
Plant foods . Plant foods rather than animal foods makeup the main part of the Mediterranean diet. Greeks consume lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as pastas and breads. Their lives are sustained by their healthy nutritional habits. Phytonutrients are plant-based food for the cells, and they are light-years better than the many substitutes that are on the market.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids . Though most of the world avoids fat like the plague, the Greeks consume large amounts of omega-3 oil. Omega-3 oil fatty acids contain monounsaturated fats, which may lower cholesterol, as well as the antioxidant vitamin E. It contains very little saturated fat, which is associated with a high risk of heart disease. In other words, this is the good fats that our body needs for optimum nutrients.
Wine . Moderate amounts of wine are a normal part of a Greek meal. For men this means two glasses of wine a day, and one glass a day for women. This amount seems to reduce the risk of heart disease. The Greeks eat dairy products, red meats, and sweets sparingly, and so should all of us.
In a recent study of Greek men and women over age 70, those who ate a traditional Healthy Greek diet were more likely to live longer than those who ate more red meat and saturated fat. This is clear warning to us that the modern way of eating is rapidly eroding our health to ruin and it's recommended that we consume the healthy nutritional diet like the Greek.
What we eat and drink today, walk and talk tomorrow. Want to live the good life longer? Eat like the Greeks, develop the healthy nutritional habits.