Every September I spend a two weeks holiday in Italy or Greece. What I like mostly in this countries is abundance of restaurants with mederranean food. From the very beginning you should se nothing special in this. It is very common to serve Mediterranean food on Mediterranean sea side. But I want to tell you all the story

The Mediterranean diet, widely reported to be a model of healthy eating, is rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes, cereals, fish, nuts, olive oil, and a moderate intake of red wine during meals, but is low in red meat, dairy products, and alcohol.

Key ingredients of Mediterranean cuisine are really quite simple…they include olive oil, fresh fruits and vegetables, protein rich legumes, nuts, fish and whole grains with moderate amounts of wine and red meat.

The best part…the flavors are rich, and the health benefits for people choosing a Mediterranean diet are hard to ignore. Some call it the Mediterranean Heart Diet, as it is heart healthy.

On the Mediterranean Diet you will be less likely to develop high blood pressure, high cholesterol or become obese. Did that get your attention??? If you’re trying to eat foods that are better for your heart, start with these nine healthy ingredients, which are the simple staples of Mediterranean cooking. As well, or perhaps the most important if you are a dieter, you will see Mediterranean Diet weight loss.

Nine Healthy Ingredients of the Mediterranean Diet:

1. Olive oil (always buy the extra virgin olive oil it is worth every penny)
2. Fresh fruits
3. Fresh vegetables
4. Protein rich legumes (beans)
5. Proteins from nuts and other plants
6. Fish
7. Whole grains
8. Moderate amounts of wine
9. Moderate amounts of red meat

Greater adherence to the diet was associated with a 9% lower overall mortality, a 9% lower cardiovascular mortality, a 6% lower incidence of or mortality from cancer, and a 13% lower incidence of Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, Francesco Sofi, M.D., of the University of Florence, and colleagues reported online in the British Medical Journal.

Read more about mediterranean diet