Transcript
The Mediterranean diet is one of the few diets that have been shown to have cardiovascular or heart health benefits. This diet is based on the way of life in the Mediterranean in the early 15 to 1600s and even currently. It focuses on eating lots of plant-based proteins and it limits your intake of animal proteins. So some of the proteins that it emphasizes include things like fruits and vegetables they use, whole grains, and it limits the amount of animal proteins that you eat. Whereas plant and animal proteins have adequate amounts of proteins that your body needs to survive and thrive on a daily basis, animal protein tends to have saturated fat. Saturated fats are bad for your cardiac health because they can lead to heart attacks. Whereas the protein, plant-based proteins have all the benefits of protein without the added saturated fats. So the Mediterranean diet emphasizes the plant-based protein as the main dish, and the animal proteins like the meats tend to be either garnishes or side dishes. The Mediterranean diet also recommends moderate amounts of wine, and it recommends more fat than the traditional American fat-free diet, but it recommends the good fats, like the polyunsaturated fats that we see in avocados or olive oil, extra virgin olive oil, along with eating a healthy diet that’s predominantly plant-based. It also emphasizes physical activity and enjoying life with your family and friends.