Cretan Diet
The diet of the Cretans is world re-knowned for its healthiness, for people who want to live longer, (and who doesn’t!) some say it is miraculous! High in nutrition, it has been shown to extend the life, preventing many of the modern diseases of the western world that are attributed to unhealthy eating. It is important to find a way of eating a diet that helps people reduce weight, and improve overall health without reducing the pleasure we get from eating. The traditional Cretan Diet is a way of eating that is tasty, healthy and natural, making the Cretan diet wholesome and very simple to follow. The diets key features are: Honey and yoghurt, Herbal teas like Greek mountain tea, olives and their oils, fresh fruits and vegetables, some red meats (lean) fresh fish and seafood and small amounts of dairy produce, these elements are taken from locally produced foodstuffs. One surprising thing about the Cretan diet is the fact that following the traditional Crete Diet, you will consume almost three times more fat than the average American. However, the diet only uses olive oil for its fat stuffs, Olive oil is a key factor when trying to keep in good health and therefore helps prevent illnesses, it is not like other oils and fats. Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids; it is packed with anti-oxidative agents, which gel with toxic free radicals that create a natural defense against numerous types of cancer. Cook everything from now on, only in olive oil and start to taste a difference that is better for you! Surprisingly bread is another, again the average Cretan will eat three times more bread than their American counterparts. The bread is usually whole meal, and made fresh, so it is unprocessed. Bread is always present at the Cretan table, be it a full family feast, or just with a few olives and a chunk of feta cheese as a snack, fish and meat is grilled or barbequed and is only a small component of the diet. Fruit, beans, pulses and vegetables are the main staples, as mentioned earlier the key to the Cretan diet is to prepare all meals with fresh ingredients sourced locally. The recipes are quite simple, and use wild growing mountain herbs for flavour and seasoning; the best part is something to wash the delicious food down, WINE! Red wine has well documented benefits, good for circulation and the heart, but all in moderation .one or two glasses of wine, is fine as an accompaniment to the meal. If this sounds like a wonderful diet, why not give it a try, olive oil, plenty of bread and a glass or two of wine, surely it's the food of the gods! So replace your cooking fats for olive oil, drink less alcohol, And make it a glass of red! Eat more fresh fruit and vegetables; don't forget pulses, grains and beans, nuts and seeds to add protein. Eat small amounts of cheese and yoghurts on a daily basis, if possible. Fish and poultry can be beneficial, but in small quantities, and lean red meat, to be eaten maybe only once a week. I hope that by following these simple rules, you feel the benefits of a healthier diet, and enjoy it as much as I do.
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