The Mediterranean Diet can help with weight loss even though it is rich in calories, high in carbohydrates, and 35 to 40% of those calories come from fats. First, we must understand that the Mediterranean Diet is not really a diet as we usually think of them. It is more of a way of life. A traditional way of eating for the people of the Mediterranean area.
The Mediterranean Diet is a long term maintenance plan that helps people lose weight safely and in a healthy manner. One or two pounds a week is the most anyone should try to lose and that is what will happen if you follow this diet.
People need to understand that calories are not the problem. It depends on the type of calories. Dr. Campbell’s China study presented evidence that the average Chinese person ate 30% more calories daily than the average American, but still weighed 20% less. It was because of where their calories came from as they ate mostly a plant-based diet.
Carbohydrates obtained from healthy foods like fruits and vegetables and the right fiber are necessary for our bodies. It is the carbohydrates derived from unhealthy foods, like the refined sugars that are found in sodas and snack foods, that tend to cause weight gain. In fact, eating a low carbohydrate diet is known to result in weight gain.
So many people have tried to lose weight by eating a low fat diet, yet our population continues to gain weight. The low fat diet is not working. Medical studies have shown that there is no direct link between a high fat diet and excess bodyweight. The same is said for saturated fats, again there is no absolute direct link between these fats and cholesterol. It is more correctly said that there is a link between fats that come from animal protein and most diseases we associate with fat, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
The key to health improvement is adding healthy fats to our diet, such as those found in the Mediterranean Diet, which is 35 to 40 % fat. Those fats primarily come from olive oil and therefore are plant-based. So, we can conclude that adding plant-based fats to our diet is healthy since lowered risks of heart attacks, diabetes, and cancers are associated with the Mediterranean Diet.
Finding healthy proteins means going against the grain of what is commonly believed and relying on plant proteins as overall healthier for you. There is compelling evidence that whole grains and legumes are the healthiest sources of protein. Seafood is another good source, which is high in protein and low in fat.
The Mediterranean Diet is a plant-based diet consisting of healthy fats, healthy carbohydrates, and healthy proteins. The diet is not focused on counting calories or fats, but rather on eating balanced meals made from fresh and whole foods….
People already following our Mediterranean plan are on the right track….and you?
