Trying out the Mediterranean diet in 2022
The 5 most important reasons
US News and World Report just released their top diet rankings, and for the third year in a row, the Mediterranean diet took first place as the best overall diet. With its emphasis on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy olive oil, the Mediterranean Diet offers a wide range of benefits, from improved heart and brain health to preventing and controlling diabetes.
Curious about Mediterranean food in 2020? Read on for our top 5 reasons to try it!
1) The Mediterranean Diet was ranked not only the best overall diet, but also the #1 easiest-to-follow diet by US News and World Report. With no food groups to eliminate or specific regimes to follow other than a focus on olive oil as the primary cooking oil, eating Mediterranean-style is more of a lifestyle than a diet, making it much easier to manage in the long run .
2) There are many different foods and flavors! 22 countries border the Mediterranean Sea, with a population expected to exceed 520 million by 2025. From Moroccan and Turkish to Greek and Italian cuisine, the choice of Mediterranean-style dishes is limitless - all united in the use of olive oil so important to all these cuisines.
3) Online resources make it easy to get started. Need a shopping list to get you started? There are hundreds of websites and apps with recipes, meal plans and more. Be sure to check out Oldways' Mediterranean Food Pyramid for a primer.
4) Bloating will not be a problem. The Mediterranean diet includes legumes, seeds, and olive oil as the basic building blocks of meals. These foods contain a healthy dose of proteins and fats that help keep hunger pangs at bay.
5) The health benefits of the Mediterranean diet are well documented by decades of scientific research and include a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and a reduced risk of cancer. And recent promising research suggests the benefits may extend far beyond these diseases.
Olive oil is the cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet. Research shows that followers of the Mediterranean diet consume between 2 and 4 tablespoons of olive oil per day.