Thanks to Flixflickr
While fad diets and cosmetic surgery continue to offer patchwork (and often dangerous) solutions to the growing problem of the overweight and obese Western population many are finding that an adherence to the traditional and historic Mediterranean diet presents one of the most simple, effective alternatives and solutions.
To examine the typical Mediterranean diet it is important to trace back those civilizations and societies that played a role in contributing to its make-up and by doing this we can best look at the most prevalent foods in the ancient Roman, Greek, Egyptian and Arab cultures and time.
Given the geographical location of many of the societies mentioned above, the best available source of meat was often found in fishing so it should come as no surprise that seafood makes up a large part of the Mediterranean Basin’s diet from ancient times to the modern day.
Recent studies have shown a link between fish and vegetables complemented with a small quantity of cooking oil (extra virgin olive oil preferably) and this basic foundation should be considered a staple when looking for the positive results associated with the diet.
Although the typical foods we look at when thinking of the Mediterranean diet may not have been exactly those eaten by all of those living in the Mediterranean Basin (a lack of wine consumption in observant Muslim communities provides an example) the patterns in certain elements of this area’s meals are worth noting in their success at maintaining healthy weight and keeping the body healthy.
Studies have noted that Roman cooking (observed in most of Italy today) was coupled well with Greek patterns of many dark vegetables (like spinach, chicory, rocket endive and amaranth), coloured vegetables such as tomatoes, and ample herbs cooked slowly with white meat (fish especially) in order to get the most out of unprocessed, nutrient rich foods.
Ancient Egyptians favored beans and lentils (examples of quality legumes) in their diet and their patterns were similar in many respects to the falafels and kebobs familiar in many Arabic cultures. When all of these influences are lumped together into the Mediterranean diet we are best able to take historical lessons to heart and isolate those foods which will serve us best.
So what sorts of foods should you be using in your own cooking?
Well, if history has shown us a good example in the Mediterranean diet then we can follow the principles of their food choices as a way to achieve weight loss and maintain healthier eating habits.
As time moved on there were obviously some changes to traditional Mediterranean food choices but the core of the cooking stayed the same.
The ancient cultures of this area showed an emphasis on foods that are not as central to the typical Western diet exported from Europe and into North America. Many lessons can be learned from the success of other societies and it is significant to see that an adoption of the Mediterranean diet’s core into our day to day lives can result in positive benefits.
