Foods to include in a Mediterranean diet
The Mediterranean diet is the diet that is usually consumed by the people living in the Mediterranean region. This diet is not followed as the diet for weight loss, but it usually helps people who are consuming it in living a healthier life with no diseases and a healthy heart. There are certain cities located in the Mediterranean region like Italy, Greece, and Sardinia where most of the people consume this diet and there are various studies that suggest the lower rate of heart diseases and cancer in these regions. There are a lot of food items that you can consume while having a Mediterranean diet.
Almonds
Almonds are a great option to consume if you are trying to lose some weight and also, wish to have a tasty snack. You can have the almonds at any time of the day at dinner, lunch, for breakfast, and also as a snacking option. There are several types of research according to which almonds also help in losing some extra pounds when you consume them just before the workout.
Chickpeas
Another food item that is utilized in the Mediterranean diet is chickpea. If you consume chickpeas daily with other food items like grains and starches, then you can get plenty of nutrients like protein, zinc, folate, calcium, and iron. Chickpeas also have a good amount of fiber content in them and they are helpful in preventing diabetes, heart disease, and colon cancer.
Wild salmon
Wild salmon is also a great option to choose when you are following a Mediterranean diet as it contains a great number of proteins and omega-6 fatty acids, which are very good for the heart.
Couscous
Most of the Mediterranean diets are made up of unrefined grains like barley and couscous. These whole grains are digested very slowly in the body and they produce only a small amount of glucose and insulin. They are also a great source of vitamin E, fiber, magnesium, and other antioxidants. These food items are also helpful in protecting your body from diabetes and other chronic diseases like heart diseases.
Garlic
Another food item in the category of the Mediterranean diet is garlic, which is used in most of the recipes to add some flavors. You can add garlic into any recipe either in pasta or any vegetable. Garlic is a great agent in eliminating different infection-causing microorganisms like bacteria and fungi. It also assists in the reduction of body fat.
Eggplants
Eggplants are an excellent choice for those people who love to eat meaty textured food items. Eggplants are a great source of fiber, chlorogenic acid, and potassium. You can make different Mediterranean recipes with the utilization of eggplants. Eggplants have cancer-fighting properties as well as anti-viral properties. There are a lot of other nutrients also found in eggplants like magnesium and all types of vitamins.
These are the few food items that are utilized in a Mediterranean diet with lots of nutrients packed in them. You should ensure to add them if you are following the Mediterranean diet.