Heart Healthy And The Mediterranean Diet.
For years, doctors have been suggested the heart healthy Mediterranean diet to patients who have cardiovascular disease or who just want to shore up their defenses as they age.
Mediterranean Diets, which usually are heavy with olive oil, vegetables and fish and light on red meat and high-fat dairy, are extremely popular among people looking to accomplish everything from lowering cholesterol to beating the potential for heart attacks and strokes.
But are there additional advantages to the Mediterranean diet outside of heart health and weight loss? There certainly are! Because this diet tends to be low on red meat, it has a lot more fatty fish, like salmon, in it than most diets do that focus on either a vegetarian emphasis or limited meat portions.
As a result, Mediterranean Diets are higher in omega 3 fatty acids, essential nutrients found in salmon oil, than most western diet options. Omega 3 fatty acids are not just good for your heart, but they also can lower your risk of diabetes, fortify your immune system, diminish allergic responses and ease muscle aches and joint pains. In a study in which patients were controlled only for diet and did not have to increase exercise or change any bad habits like smoking, the patients on the Mediterranean diet versus a low-fat diet had significantly lower rates of diabetes in addition to stronger cardiovascular health.
I personally had always thought that the Mediterranean Diet was not very appealing. It seemed a little on the green, oily side for a girl who has always liked her steak! But when I found out about these advantages, I decided that maybe I could sub out some steak for some salmon every once in a while – or at least take a daily salmon oil supplement. After all, my heart, my autoimmune system and my daily health are worth it to me. Are yours to you?
