| As Americans and other Westerners grapple with | | | | have been proven to have numerous benefits |
| obesity and weight issues, more and more attention | | | | because of the high content of Omega Fatty Acids. |
| is being paid to diets of other people in countries | | | | Omega Fatty Acids are known to protect the heart |
| around the world that are enjoying good health and | | | | and other organs from degenerative diseases such as |
| have few weight-related problems. | | | | cancer. They also maintain the health of the |
| Research shows that there are a number of diets | | | | hormones, brains and eyes. |
| around the world which, when adhered to, show | | | | Several varieties of vegetables are also eaten |
| much lower incidences of heart disease, cancer and | | | | everyday and it would not be unusual for a Japanese |
| obesity. Let's take a look at some of them. | | | | family to eat vegetables with their breakfast, lunch |
| Mediterranean Diet | | | | and dinner. A diet high in fiber exerts a protective |
| The Mediterranean diet is a diet which is shared by | | | | influence over the digestive track and guards against |
| people from countries on the border of the | | | | colon cancer. |
| Mediterranean Basin including Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, | | | | Additionally, Japanese people eat lots of noodles, |
| Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Spain, Italy, France, Greece and | | | | however, the noodles they eat are often made from |
| Monaco. | | | | buckwheat flour which is known to facilitate the |
| Research has shown that people who adhere to the | | | | digestive process. |
| Mediterranean Diet have a higher life expectancy and | | | | Oolong tea is also consumed at mealtime and is |
| lower incidences of chronic diseases than people who | | | | thought to have excellent health benefits. Oolong tea |
| live in other parts of the world. It's believed that one | | | | is said to help the body digest fats and, in Japan, is |
| reason for this is the consumption of Olive Oil. Used | | | | consumed when fried food is served with a meal. |
| extensively in cooking, Olive Oil takes the place of | | | | Served cold or hot, Oolong tea also helps with the |
| margarine and animal fats that are consumed in high | | | | digestion of food in the digestive track. |
| quantities in countries like the United States and | | | | Diets From Other Countries |
| Britain. | | | | While the Japanese diet and the Mediterranean diet |
| Olive Oil has a very high content of monounsaturated | | | | are two of the healthiest diets in the world, there |
| fats and polyphenols. | | | | are several others. Other cultures which have healthy |
| Monounsaturated oils have been proven to lower the | | | | diets include a number of African countries. One |
| risk of heart disease, high cholesterol and cancer. A | | | | lesson that Westerners can learn from African diets |
| powerful antioxidant, polyphenols, is one of the main | | | | is to add more nuts to our meals. In many African |
| substances in Olive Oil. Polyphenols has been proven | | | | countries, nuts are often considered the main part of |
| to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. | | | | the meal. In fact, in some African countries, peanut |
| Additionally, the Mediterranean diet consists of lots of | | | | stew is a favorite dish for many people. Cooked with |
| leafy green vegetables and fresh fruit, whole grains, | | | | lots of vegetables, a main dish made from nuts |
| seeds and nuts. Fish, which is high in Omega 3 Fatty | | | | offers a wholesome, high-protein meal that is an |
| Acids, is eaten about 3 to 4 times per week in the | | | | excellent substitute for meat and poultry. |
| Mediterranean diet. Research shows that Omega 3 | | | | Another diet of note is that of South America. South |
| fatty acids reduce the risk of heart disease and | | | | Americans are known to eat lots of beans as one of |
| other degenerative conditions. And while grilled meat | | | | their main staples. And in countries where a lot of |
| is eaten, red meat makes up a small part of their | | | | meat is eaten such as in Argentina, many of their |
| diet. | | | | farm animals are grass fed. It is said that this is |
| Japanese Diet | | | | perhaps one of the main reasons that their rate of |
| The Japanese diet has gained a lot of attention in | | | | heart disease is much lower than that of North |
| recent years due to the long life span that Japanese | | | | Americans in spite of the fact that they eat much |
| people are know to have. Studies show that Japan | | | | more beef than other countries of the world. |
| has, on the average, about 20,000 people who are | | | | Whichever diet you choose, the key factor is to |
| 100 years old or older. The secret to this longevity | | | | choose a diet which is wholesome, nutritious and |
| has been proven to be diet. One reason for this is | | | | well-balanced. If you are looking for healthy diet |
| because when Japanese people plan their meals, they | | | | alternatives, try adopting any of the diet alternatives |
| plan with the nutritional value of their food in mind. | | | | mentioned in this article. Or, better yet, you may be |
| Their main source of protein consists of oily fish such | | | | interested in mixing and matching the best of all of |
| as sardines, mackerel and salmon. All of these fish | | | | the diets mentioned here. |