Mediterranean Diet Pyramid

This Pyramid, which represents the optimal, traditional Mediterranean diet, is based on the dietary traditions of Crete and southern Italy in the 1960s.
It is structured in the light of nutrition research carried out in 1993 and presented by Professor Walter Willet during the 1993 International Conference on the Diets of the Mediterranean, held in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Mediterranean Diet Pyramid underlines the importance of the foods making up the principal food groups. Each of these individual food groups offers some, but not all, of the nutrients one needs. Food from one group cannot replace that of another group. All the groups are necessary for a healthy diet. The basic products of the Mediterranean diet, in descending order of quantity and frequency advised, are: Grains: These form the base of the majority of meals in Mediterranean countries - bread (wholemeal or otherwise), pasta,
couscous and rice. Fruit and vegetables: Meals are more flavoursome when in-season products are selected and they are cooked very simply. In most Mediterranean countries the dessert is generally fruit. Legumes and nuts: A wide variety of legumes and nuts, such as chickpeas, lentils, haricot beans, pine kernels, almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, etc. are used in cooking. Olive oil and olives: "Olive oil" and "Virgin olive oil"  are used throughout the Mediterranean. The former is normally used for cooking. The latter, which is appropriate for all uses, is excellent when consumed raw to best appreciate its aroma and flavour and to benefit fully from all its natural components. The proportion of fats in the traditional diet of Crete
observed by Professor Ancel Keys, was >40% kcal/day of which 8% were saturated fats, 3% polyunsaturated and 29% monounsaturated (olive oil).
Dairy products: Cheese, yoghurt and other dairy products, with no special mention of milk. Fish: offered as a first class protein, before eggs and poultry.
The highest point of the Pyramid, meaning that its consumption is least advised, is occupied by red meat and just slightly below, but also of little importance,
are sweets and pastries. Regular physical activity is vital to maintaining good health and optimal weight. Wine can be consumed in moderation,
primarily with meals (1-2 glasses/day). It is optional and should be avoided whenever it puts the individuals or others at risk.

Notes

Source:IOOC

Yahoo! News Search Results for Mediterranean diet
Yahoo! News Search Results for Mediterranean diet

Mediterranean Diet: A Heart-Healthy Eating Approach (ThirdAge)
Quick quiz: Where is heart disease less common ... in the U.S. or in Greece? Yes, it's true. Unfortunately (for us, at least), in countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, heart disease is less common than in the United States.
Today's Health with Dr. T. Glenn Pait: Benefits of Mediterranean diet (KTHV L...
There are an endless number of diets out there. While some of the extreme ones claim to help you drastically lose weight, there are a few that revolve around healthy lifestyle changes.
Tom Venuto: 8 Overlooked Diet Mistakes That Put the Pounds Back on (The Huffi...
Rather than worrying about the minutiae of your diet plan, like whether you should be on low carb or high carb, Mediterranean or Okinawan, I propose that if you focus on these 8 issues, you'll start getting more lasting results.
Set a healthy table (Rocky Mount Telegram)
Foods for a healthy lifestyle can be full of great flavor. Take the traditional Mediterranean diet for example. It is characterized by daily consumption of olive oil, fish, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and whole grains.
How finding the right challenge can keep you focused on your weight loss (KIV...
It's 26 weeks until my birthday -- and I want to lose 26 pounds.  Keeping focused on that and a couple of specific challenges is getting me back on track with my diet.
The Home Show Opens Tomorrow! (Providence Business News)
(East Providence, Rhode Island) The largest and oldest Home Show in southern New England is returning to the Rhode Island Convention Center tomorrow through Sunday March 14. Rhode Island?s longest running show with over 300 exhibitors, how- to- seminars, children?s entertainment and cooking demonstrations!
How finding the right challenge can keep you focused on your weight loss (KMI...
I'm feeling so much better this week than I did last week! I managed to lose about five pounds from my highest post-birthday weight and I'm feeling great.
Medical calendar for March 10 (Suburban Journals)
Classes AUTISM: Autism Education and Support Services hosts Strategies for Challenging Behaviors from 6-8 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month at The Center for Autism Education, 105 Sheriff Dierker Court in O'Fallon. Classes are designed for parents, grandparents, baby sitters, friends or other family members who want to learn more about autism. Cost is $30. To register, call 636-978-4951.
Medical calendar for March 3 (Suburban Journals)
Classes AUTISM: Autism Education and Support Services hosts classes at the Center for Autism Education, 105 Crossings Industrial Court in O'Fallon. Classes include Understanding Autism, 6-8 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month, and Strategies for Challenging Behaviors, 6-8 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month. These classes are designed for parents, grandparents, baby sitters, friends or other ...
Food & Wine Events: East Bay & Beyond (Contra Costa Times)
Food & Wine Events"A Chemical Reaction" ? 6 p.m. March 11. This night at the Rheem Theater includes a screening of a provocative, award-winning film about how one doctor began a movement to reveal the health risks of landscaping chemicals and effected policy change to ban cosmetic uses of