| As the healthy lifestyle is gaining popularity in modern | | | | Clearly, industrialize produced food is directly |
| society, demand for healthy products is constantly on | | | | responsible for an ever-growing number of health |
| the rise. Millions of global consumers are showing | | | | problems in Western countries. What we can learn is |
| higher awareness of the foods they are eating and | | | | that Mediterranean countries have fewer cases of |
| nutrition is becoming a major issue. | | | | obesity, cardio-vascular diseases and cancer diseases |
| Those interested in living a healthier lifestyle, now | | | | due to also higher ratio of oil consumption. |
| realize that food quality is the single most influential | | | | Mediterranean Diet |
| factor affecting our health. This has led | | | | By adopting the "Mediterranean diet" lifestyle, |
| manufacturers to offer a wide variety of "healthy | | | | characterized by the consumption of the much |
| food diets," which supposedly help improve the | | | | healthier olive and fish oils, people can substantially |
| quality of food. | | | | improve their health and quality of life. |
| Low-fat weight loss - the myths | | | | These oils should ideally be cold pressed. A balanced |
| Fat is as essential components of human diet as | | | | consumption of fatty acids should include: 10-15% |
| protein and carbohydrates. However, in today's | | | | poly-unsaturated fatty acids (Omega 6 and Omega |
| Western society, foods containing fat are regarded | | | | 3), 10-15% saturated and 65-75% mono-unsaturated |
| as a serious risk factor resulting in weight gain. As a | | | | fatty acids (Omega 9), of the total calories from oils. |
| result, many adopt low-fat diets. | | | | These fatty acids can be found in extra virgin olive |
| Such low-fat diets are usually high in calories | | | | oil, cold pressed flax seed oil and fish oil. |
| originating from available carbohydrate sources. The | | | | A diet based on the consumption of 2,100 calories |
| unexpected result is an expanding weight-gain | | | | should include: |
| epidemic accompanied by metabolic disorders and | | | | - 360 calories (4 tablespoons) of extra virgin olive oil |
| related diseases, like: hypertension, Atherosclerosis, | | | | - 90 calories (1 tablespoon) of cold pressed flax seed |
| heart disease, diabetics type 2 and stroke. | | | | oil |
| The main reason for this is that contrary to the | | | | - 27 calories (3 capsules) of fish oil |
| general perception, in order to be healthy, 25-30 | | | | - 223 calories of oil derived from fish, meat, nuts, |
| percent of our daily calories must be of oil origin. | | | | almonds, and baked products |
| Balanced Diet | | | | Healthy Eating Tips |
| Every live cell in the human body contains fat and | | | | Through the daily consumption of four tablespoons |
| optimal cell functioning depends on the inclusion of | | | | of olive oil every morning one can suppress appetite |
| fatty acids. | | | | for 8-10 hours. This is the minimum intake required to |
| In addition to the supply of the optimal amount of | | | | maintain the cells' membrane flexibility and |
| fat, our daily diet must also include an exact | | | | functionality both internally and in the skin. |
| combination of saturated, mono-unsaturated and | | | | A balanced fatty acids composition is essential at any |
| poly-unsaturated fatty acids. The consumption of | | | | stage of our lives. It is crucial especially for pregnant |
| poly-unsaturated fatty acids is essential, as the | | | | women, breast-feeding mothers, babies, sportsmen, |
| human body must receive them externally and | | | | and people older than 50. |
| cannot produce them. | | | | |