Eating the Mediterranean Way has been considered by experts for years as being one the healthiest ways to eat and Mediterranean people from Italy, Malta, North Africa, Greece and others have been consistently shown to have healthy hearts and long lives. Different countires that touch the Mediterranean have different ways of eating the food but as most of the staple ingredients are the same the health benefits don't vary much and the people fo the Med from Turkey to Tunisia all seems to eat the same things.

The basic benefit of the Mediterranean way of eating stems from a the high concentration of fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, bread, and other cereals all pof which are grown locally and eaten by all people from the poor peasents to the rich landowners. Walking through the countryside in a Mediterranean country you will see orange and other fruit trees in abundance and most of the good arable land is used for the growing of vegetables. These fruits and vegetable are normally eaten raw or just slightly boiled and they are a great source of antioxidants and vitamins as well as fructose for energy.

Another key ingredient of the Mediterranean way of eating is olive oil. All diets needs some form of fat and of all the different types of fat olive oil which is high in monounsaturated fat is the best for you. Olive oil has antioxidants as well as vitamin E and is delicious too and makes a much healthier substitute to butter and margarine which have more cholesterol boosting fats. Olive oil is present everywhere in the Mediterranean way of eating and is used for frying as well as just to add taste to anything from bread to a salad.

Obviously due the proximity of the sea, fish features largely in the Mediterranean diet. Traditionally fish in the Mediterranean area was consumed by rich and poor alike and is much more prevalent than meat which is good because weight loss experts say that fish generally has less fat than meat. Oily fish such as tuna and octupus contain omega 3 fatty acids which are good for the health of the digestive system and the body in general. Of all the food stuffs in the Mediterranean Diet fish is probably the greatest source of protein.

Many Mediterranean countries produce grapes and therefore wine. Wine is always present in a Mediterranean home and little children have always been known to allowed to have a small glass from an early age. Red wineis usually the staple drink with food and polyphenols present in red wine for example are good antioxidants. While excessive intake of alcohol is bad for you and will curb your life span, long term studies conclude that people who drink a glass or two a day live longer than those who don't.

The Mediterranean way is about the way you live. The importance of quality food is high on the list and mealtimes are great ocasions and to be taken seriously. The Mediterranean diet is said to make you live longer but it is also the Mediterranean low stress and laid back attitude to life that helps to promote harmony and happy lives. So if you decide to eat like a Mediterranean man or woman, adopt a healthy attitude to life too...chill out, don't get stressed and eat well.