The Mediterranean Diet may just be the best eating plan out there. This way of eating has become popular because it’s a well-rounded way of living that doesn’t force you to restrict or deprive yourself. It’s based on a way of eating that’s prominent in Mediterranean cultures- some of the healthiest in the world. If filling up on fish, fruits, veggies, and high-fibre foods sounds like your kind of diet, check out this 30 day Mediterranean diet meal plan and see if it’s right for you!
What is the Mediterranean Diet?
The Mediterranean Diet is less of a traditional diet plan, and more of a lifestyle based way of eating. It’s a way of eating that features foods typically eaten in Greece such as fish, fruits, vegetables, beans, high-fibre breads and whole grains, nuts and olive oil. Meats, cheeses and sweets are very limited, and the recommended foods are high in monounsaturated fats, fibre and omega-3 fatty acids.
The Mediterranean Diet urges you to fill your body with healthy foods, putting a strong emphasis on fruits, vegetables and high-fibre grains. An average of 35% to 40% of calories on the Mediterranean Diet can come from fat, and these mainly come from unsaturated oils such as fish oils, olive oils, certain nut and seed oils, and from nuts.
The diet is known and loved for its benefit to heart health, reducing your risk of heart disease by lowering levels of bad LDL cholesterol and improving cardiovascular conditions. If you find other diet plans to be restricting, this may be a healthy way of eating that can work for you.
Does the Mediterranean Diet Work for Weight Loss?
Since the Mediterranean Diet isn’t a traditional diet, but rather a way of eating in certain parts of the world, it wasn’t specifically designed for weight loss. However, since it’s one of the healthiest diets around and decreases your intake of meats, cheeses and sweets, it’s an incredibly well-rounded and healthy way to lose weight without having to go on a strict eating plan.
Keep in mind, that this all depends on your eating habits and creating healthy habits for yourself. Even healthy diets like this one aren’t a free-for-all eating plan and will work best coupled with exercise and an active lifestyle.