Mediterranean diet recipes: why mediterranean diet is so good for our health ?
Mediterranean diet recipes : light, pleasant, and excellent for our health
Many studies have shown that the Mediterranean diet reduces risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, the number of overweight people is much lower in Mediterranean countries and Europe. In the Mediterranean region of North Africa, these benefits are far less obvious because of the high consumption of sugar and honey.
What brings these health benefits?
Let's take an example: " ratatouille". This wonderful dish is the essence of Provence (south east of France). The ingredients are: tomatoes, white onion, green and red bell peppers, eggplants, zucchinis, garlic, parsley,basil,, " herbes de provence", alittle red wine and of course, extra virgin oil. This dish can be a satisfying dish by itself It also is a wonderful side dish with a sauted filet of white fish. If you eat it with white fish, it is full of substances bringing a good health : monounsaturated fats, omega3 fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals,trace elements and fibers
The consumption of monounsaturated fats lower bad cholesterol. In particular, consumption of olive oil, and white meat poultry.
The absorption of omega3 fatty acids from fish, nuts and certain vegetables. These omegas3 help protect against cardiovascular diseases. They lower, the bad (ldl) cholesterol level and increase blood flow
The antioxidants decrease the production of free radicals. Free radicals are substances that the body uses to kill germs or cancer cells. Nevertheless excess free radicals generates cardiovascular disease or cancer or even premature aging. If our food is not well balanced, our body produces generally too much free radicals There are antioxidants in large amounts in red wine (the Mediterranean regularly consume red wine : a little glass at noon and at the dinner), the goat and sheep cheese, as well as in fruits and vegetables.
Vitamins, minerals and trace elements contribute to our good health. An optimal amount of these substances allows the proper functioning of our whole body. The enzymes that activate all the reactions in our body needs these substances to function properly. They are found in high quantities in fruits and vegetables, cereals, brown rice or complete, oilseeds (walnut, hazelnut, almond...)
Fibers helps decrease appetite and stabilize the sugar the glycaemia, which is important to prevent or reduce diabetes.. They reduce levels of ldl cholesterol and improve bowel function.
Maybe you wonder if taking vitamins, trace elements and anti-oxidant pills you will get the same benefits for your health ?
Unfortunately, a French study (SU.VI.MAX) demonstrated the opposite. A study focused on lung cancer during several years (but this also applies to other cancers or cardiovascular diseases). A high dietary intake of beta-carotene ( as Mediterranean diet recipes bring) reduces the risk of lung cancer. But, in the contrary, smokers taking beta carotene pills increases the risk 18 to 28%. The explanation could be as follows. While a natural supply of beta-carotene helps regulate the production of free radicals in the needs of our immune system, the vitamin supplements reduced the production of free radicals in a way that does not meet the needs of the body. Free radicals are then insufficient to attack cancer cells.That's why the risk of cancer increases.
Indeed, a balanced cuisine is the best for our health
If you are looking for well balanced, pleasant and easy Mediterranean diet recipes,I invite you to take a look at my blog.
http://lowerldlcholesterol.blogspot.com
Many studies have shown that the Mediterranean diet reduces risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, the number of overweight people is much lower in Mediterranean countries and Europe. In the Mediterranean region of North Africa, these benefits are far less obvious because of the high consumption of sugar and honey.
What brings these health benefits?
Let's take an example: " ratatouille". This wonderful dish is the essence of Provence (south east of France). The ingredients are: tomatoes, white onion, green and red bell peppers, eggplants, zucchinis, garlic, parsley,basil,, " herbes de provence", alittle red wine and of course, extra virgin oil. This dish can be a satisfying dish by itself It also is a wonderful side dish with a sauted filet of white fish. If you eat it with white fish, it is full of substances bringing a good health : monounsaturated fats, omega3 fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals,trace elements and fibers
The consumption of monounsaturated fats lower bad cholesterol. In particular, consumption of olive oil, and white meat poultry.
The absorption of omega3 fatty acids from fish, nuts and certain vegetables. These omegas3 help protect against cardiovascular diseases. They lower, the bad (ldl) cholesterol level and increase blood flow
The antioxidants decrease the production of free radicals. Free radicals are substances that the body uses to kill germs or cancer cells. Nevertheless excess free radicals generates cardiovascular disease or cancer or even premature aging. If our food is not well balanced, our body produces generally too much free radicals There are antioxidants in large amounts in red wine (the Mediterranean regularly consume red wine : a little glass at noon and at the dinner), the goat and sheep cheese, as well as in fruits and vegetables.
Vitamins, minerals and trace elements contribute to our good health. An optimal amount of these substances allows the proper functioning of our whole body. The enzymes that activate all the reactions in our body needs these substances to function properly. They are found in high quantities in fruits and vegetables, cereals, brown rice or complete, oilseeds (walnut, hazelnut, almond...)
Fibers helps decrease appetite and stabilize the sugar the glycaemia, which is important to prevent or reduce diabetes.. They reduce levels of ldl cholesterol and improve bowel function.
Maybe you wonder if taking vitamins, trace elements and anti-oxidant pills you will get the same benefits for your health ?
Unfortunately, a French study (SU.VI.MAX) demonstrated the opposite. A study focused on lung cancer during several years (but this also applies to other cancers or cardiovascular diseases). A high dietary intake of beta-carotene ( as Mediterranean diet recipes bring) reduces the risk of lung cancer. But, in the contrary, smokers taking beta carotene pills increases the risk 18 to 28%. The explanation could be as follows. While a natural supply of beta-carotene helps regulate the production of free radicals in the needs of our immune system, the vitamin supplements reduced the production of free radicals in a way that does not meet the needs of the body. Free radicals are then insufficient to attack cancer cells.That's why the risk of cancer increases.
Indeed, a balanced cuisine is the best for our health
If you are looking for well balanced, pleasant and easy Mediterranean diet recipes,I invite you to take a look at my blog.
http://lowerldlcholesterol.blogspot.com
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