The Mediterranean diet, as you might have guessed is a healthy way of eating based on the diets of the people that live in the Mediterranean, for example, Greece, or Italy. It is a low-calorie plan born of the Epicurean spirit that focuses on flavor and enjoyment rather than restriction. Dieticians say this healthy, vegetable-filled diet reduces the chances of heart disease and many other degenerative diseases.
How does it work?
The diet encourages exercise, eating lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and nuts, olive oil instead of butter, herbs and spices instead of salt, eating red meat sparingly, eating fish and chicken regularly, and, last but not least, drinking red wine in moderation. The Mediterranean diet suggests 5 ounces for women, and 10 ounces for men; that is approximately one healthy-sized serving for a woman, and two for a man. Men are able to drink more because women retain less water than men, so the concentration of blood alcohol is higher.
It is now commonly accepted that moderate consumption of red wine is associated with a reduced risk of heart disease. If you want, check out our blog post on Healthy Reasons to Drink Wine for more information.
It is important to talk to your doctor before trying out any new diet, but if you are interested in the Mediterranean diet there is lots of information available online.
The Sonoma Diet
The Sonoma is what is otherwise known as the Mediterranean diet, but through a Californian style approach.
Just like the Old World, a glass of wine daily is actually encouraged in the Sonoma diet, which seeks to focus on ingredients like phytochemicals, micronutrients, and antioxidants as the basis for healthy eating. The menu consists of plant-based foods, nuts, fruits, vegetables, olive oils, whole grains, fish and poultry, and limiting your red meat intake. The diet takes place over the course of 3 "waves," or stages.
If either of these two diets appeals to you, try one, or some combination of the two out for a week and see if you don’t feel better all-around. Experiment with what works and get healthy and happy. The beauty of both these diets is that they seek to lower your carbon footprint so you can feel good about your health knowing that you’re keeping the earth in good health as well.
