Hello Everybody,
The Mediterranean diet is a healthy diet. We know that many Mediterranean people live a long healthy life and do it through eating fruit, vegetables, olive oil, fish, potatoes, non refined cereals and drinking wine. But longevity is not the only benefit of the Mediterranean diet. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition looked at 3759 older residents of Chicago South Side and, by means of a questionnaire, found how closely each person kept to a Mediterranean diet. It was discovered that those keeping closest had the slowest rate of cognitive decline. So as well as protecting themselves against heart disease, certain cancers and diabetes they were protecting their brain and keeping alert.
We know Mediterranean people tend to enjoy a productive old age. Pablo Picasso may not be typical, but he had two wives, four children by three different women and continued producing work of genius until he died at the age of 92. An inspiration to us all. He would have eaten a Mediterranean diet. A lot of information is available to show the Mediterranean diet is one of the best available for those who want to lose weight and stay that way. But it is just one of the two elements of successful weight loss - diet and exercise.
Those who have been to Mediterranean countries will have noticed that not everybody is fit and slim. A lot more are than in the USA or UK, but there are still overweight people who eat the Mediterranean diet. The University of Athens looked at obesity in Greece and concluded that the problem was not diet, but lack of exercise. The Greeks, like most Mediterranean people, love to talk and what better place to be than a café bar where they can sit all day and discuss the way of the world. It is a pleasant lifestyle, but not one which encourages weight loss.
The slim Mediterranean people we hear about are often farmers or fishermen - those who live by hard physical labour. The younger people may not want to become farmers of fishermen but they do enjoy the climate and swim or play active sports. In some Mediterranean countries cycling is a national obsession and this keeps a lot of people fit. So even with the Mediterranean diet it takes exercise to lose weight and keep that way.
What sort of exercise? We have already mentioned swimming and cycling, jogging or brisk walking are good as well and you can go to the gym if you prefer. Exercise must be regular to be effective and 30 minutes a day the minimum you should do. Exercise should become just part of your lifestyle and not a chore - you should enjoy it, like eating your food.
The Mediterranean diet is a lifestyle change, not a fast weight loss diet. If you really need to lose weight fast there are other diets which will help you. But understand that they are a quick fix, some are not healthy and the weight you lose is likely to come back when you stop the diet. You will never slow cognitive decline with a fast weight loss diet, and are unlikely to live to the age of Picasso. For permanent weight loss and a fit healthy old age regular exercise and the Mediterranean diet is the way to go. It is good news that it helps your brain as well.
See you soon,
Peter Stockwell
Cambridge UK
3 February 2011
Photo.evissa (Flickr)
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