Over the past 50 years, what people believed about the Mediterranean fare has changed. Many of us would picture huge, three-hour feasts with multiple courses of pizza, racks of lamb, lasagne, long loaves of white bread, and endless wine bottles. But the real Mediterranean diet is based on the regional traditional fruits, dairy, vegetables, olive oil, beans, seafood, and nuts, with perhaps a glass or two of red wine. That is how the inhabitants of Crete, southern Italy, and Greece ate circa 1960, when their chronic disease rates were among the lowest in the world and life expectancy was among the highest, despite having limited medical services.

The real Mediterranean diet is not just about eating fresh and wholesome food. Daily physical activity and sharing meals with one another are important elements of the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid. Together these factors play a major role in improving your mood and mental health and also aid you to foster a deep appreciation for the pleasure of consuming healthy and delicious foods.

Making changes to your diet is rarely easy, especially if you are trying to move away from the ease and convenience of processed and takeout foods. But following the Mediterranean diet can be an inexpensive as well as a satisfying and healthy way to eat.

Benefits of a Mediterranean diet
A traditional Mediterranean diet having large quantities of fresh fruits, olive oil, vegetables, fish, and nuts, coupled with physical activity, can reduce your risk of suffering from serious mental and physical health problems.

Preventing heart disease and strokes – Following a Mediterranean diet limits the intake of refined bread, red meat, and processed foods. It also encourages drinking red wine in the place of hard liquor. All these factors can aid in preventing heart disease and stroke.

Keeping you  agile – The nutrients gained by consuming the Mediterranean diet may reduce the risk of developing muscle weakness and other signs of frailty in older adults by about 70%.

Reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease – As per research, the Mediterranean diet can improve cholesterol, blood sugar levels, and general health of blood vessels, which in turn may reduce your risk of suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

Halving the risk of Parkinson’s disease – The high levels of antioxidants present in the Mediterranean diet may prevent cells from undergoing a damaging process known as oxidative stress, cutting the risk of Parkinson’s disease in half.

Increasing longevity – The risk of dying at any age is reduced by 20% by reducing the risk of developing heart disease or cancer with the Mediterranean diet.

Protecting against type 2 diabetes – A Mediterranean diet is rich in fiber that digests slowly, helps maintain a healthy weight, and prevents huge swings in blood sugar levels.