Make smart financial decisions with DailyFinance

Mediterranean diet on the decline ... even in countries where it began

Posted: Sep 29th 2008 11:00AM by Bethany Sanders
Filed under: Food and Nutrition


In the U.S., when people want to lose weight or at least clean up their diet, they often turn to the Mediterranean diet. Rich in nuts, fruits, vegetables, and olive oil, the diet has been credited for the the long life spans of the people who live in the region where it originated.

But sadly, even in countries like Greece, Italy, Spain, and Morocco, the Mediterranean diet is in decline. Instead, the latest generation of kids enjoy a steady diet of processed foods and sweets, making a whopping two-thirds of them overweight. Health experts and government leaders are aghast and are seeking to designate the diet an "intangible piece of cultural heritage."

In America, where our national foods are hot dogs and apple pie, this might not seem like a big deal. But I find it incredibly sad that these countries are not only losing a significant piece of their history, but along with it wonderful foods that contributed to their longevity.

Gallery: Hallmarks of the Mediterranean diet

Plant foodsProtein from plant sourcesHealthy fatsWhole grains

Related Headlines

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)



That's Fit Features



How many calories burned? What is my BMI?
More weight loss tools!


Daily Fit Tip

Many of us can't run five days a week. At least not forever, especially after injury creep sets in ...

 

Featured Stories

Sponsored Links

Most Commented On (60 days)

Recent Comments


Sites We Love

Other Weblogs Inc. Network blogs you might be interested in: