Professional Opinion: What is the 'Mediterranean diet' and why is it healthy?

Question: I keep hearing people refer to the Mediterranean diet. What exactly is the Mediterranean diet and why is it recommended?

Answer: It seems people are often looking for ways to live healthier, longer, more productive lives. And it's often thought that to live this way, you have to give up all of the things you love, whether it's sweets, fats, meats, or even alcohol.

Wouldn't it be great to be able to eat a diet that has some or all of these things while still enabling you to live a healthy, productive life?

The Mediterranean-style diet may be the answer.

The diet represents the general, heart-healthy eating style of those who live near or around the Mediterranean Sea. In general, the diet focuses on incorporating an abundance of plant-based foods such as whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes and nuts, and heart-healthy fats in the form of olive oil and fish.

It also focuses on choosing fish or lean poultry over other meat options such as beef and pork, eating small-to-moderate amounts of reduced fat cheese, yogurt and eggs, and consuming moderate amounts of wine with meals (one six-ounce glass for women and up to two six-ounce glasses for men - a great complement to a heart-healthy meal).

Over the past decade a number of studies have taken place to better understand the benefits of a Mediterranean-style diet and health. One study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology supports the diet's function in the primary prevention of heart disease in a healthy population. Another study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that a Mediterranean style diet supplemented with olive oil or nuts improved cognitive function in aging adults.

In addition, the diet involves incorporating healthy foods that may help you feel fuller longer, which can be especially important if you're trying to maintain a healthy weight.

It's easy to see why following a Mediterranean-style diet is an excellent step toward living a healthier, longer life. And, it may be just be a more enjoyable one, too.

Follow reporter Mindy Lucas on Twitter at twitter.com/MindyatIPBG.

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This story was originally published September 28, 2015 at 8:50 AM with the headline "Professional Opinion: What is the 'Mediterranean diet' and why is it healthy?."