For the fifth year in a row, the Mediterranean Diet was crowned number one in the Best Diet Ranking published in U.S. News & World Report, a leading entity in the field. The ranking is compiled by 27 nutrition experts who analyze 40 diet regimens across the globe.
The second and third places were respectively taken by the DASH diet, useful in combating hypertension and reducing salt intake, and the 'flexitarian' diet, a plant-based diet that only rarely allows small intakes of animal protein.
What makes the Mediterranean diet so special according to the experts? The answer is that this diet is varied, flexible and has few rules.
An all-around achievement, considering that, yet again, it ranked first in no fewer than five categories: prevention and treatment of diabetes, protection of the heart, healthy eating, plant-based components, and ease of following.
What are the cornerstones of this beneficial and successful daily eating habit?
Italian expert Riccardo Di Deo, of Airc (an Italian Foundation that deals with research against cancer), provided some useful advice to journalist Lorena Sironi, of the Italian women's magazine Elle, such as 'get to the stove' 'embrace the flavors' and remember that the Mediterranean Diet "isn't a constrictive dietary regimen."
European extra virgin olive oil plays a key role in the Mediterranean diet, due to its 'good' fats and its ability to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
In short: healthy food can taste good!
Riccardo Di Deo also encourages people to use social media to discover simple and appetizing recipes of the Mediterranean diet that can be easily reproduced at home.
The Tik Tok channel of the European Union's project, Oliveoileu.jp, gives away tasty cooking ideas, taken from the Mediterranean tradition.
Here is the link to get you off to a good start: https://www.tiktok.com/@european_olive_oil.
Fill your appetite with Mediterranean olive oil, the king of the best diet in the world.
Sources:
https://www.elle.com/it/salute/diete/a38704334/dieta-migliore-mediterranea/
03 August 2022
