Mediterranean Diet

I don't understand, what's the question.

Not enough protein.

chicken, beef, fish, and lamb = protein.

hell, hummus has some protein in it too.

The funniest thing is it has very little in common with the average diet of most people who live near the Mediterranean...

From what I understand, a Mediterranean diet is based primarily on greens. Very little meat, and protein is mostly fish/seafood-based.

What kind of Mediterranean nation has those characteristics? Certainly not Italy.

Actually, most USED to have these characteristics.

Since when? Fish was always popular among seafaring nations but the actual nations of the Mediterranean (Italy especially) ate a lot of meat and starches hence salt's etymology.

Meat aside, the good thing about Mediterranean diets in general is less refined sugar and junk food. Healthy oils such as olive oil and fish oil are also a staple, along with vegetables. In general there is nothing magical about Mediterranean diets though. In anything, it would be advisable to cut back from the amount of starches consumed in those regions, typically.

At least here in Greece, and in Southern Italy and Sicily, meat was actually rarely eaten. Poultry mostly, and that once a week at most. Legumes, vegetables, fish, dairy products and fruit constituted the bulk of the diet. And of course Meat was only for special occasions, like major religious festivals and important family gatherings.

People in general were very poor, and meat was more of a commodity to be sold and traded for other necessities, than something to be consumed by the producer. Plus the milk and (in the case of sheep and goats) wool were also valuable.

Also people used to observe fast more rigorously. That is 120 days a year of no meat (3 periods of 40 days before Easter, Dormition of Virgin Mary - 15th of August -, and Christmas), plus 2 days (Wednesday and Friday if I recall correctly) each of the remaining weeks.

I don't know if the diet has anything to do with it, but I always come back amazed how great people in certain European countries look like. Italy, Spain, Greece, for example. They are generally thin with fantastic glowing type skin. Compare them to a group of Americans at your local strip mall and they look ten times better.

I think I´ve got a good perspective on this. I´m an American who has lived in the Mediterranean (currently Spain) over the past 14 years. Nearly all of my health indicators (e.g., cholesterol) have improved since I adopted the local diet. When my good cholesterol (HDL) was low, the local MD prescribed olive oil rather than any prescription meds. It´s now normal. For me, it´s easy to follow because it´s full of natural and tasty stuff such as cold tomato soup (gazpacho) in the summer. There´s an amazing local ham (pata negra) that is supposed to lower your cholesterol. And part of it is drinking wine, but in moderation. Of course, if you prefer main courses that need two paragraphs to describe or snickers bars, ice cream and 32 oz. coke, you´ll be disappointed. I don´t agree that the Mediterranaen diet lacks protein - the key difference is that the protein isn´t saturated fat. If I go to a local restaurant with friends, most will order fish rather than a hunk of steak. Regarding weight loss, the traditional Mediterranean diet was a poor mans´diet. People were thin because their caloric consumption was low and they didn´t have sedentary jobs. The interesting thing is that, although people here now drive Mercedes rather than donkey carts, the portions are still a lot smaller than any restaurant in the U.S. It´s not a fad miracle, instant weight loss diet. I haven´t lost weight since I moved to the Mediterranean, but I´ve only gained one pound in the last 14 years. It´s pretty well documented that the classic Mediterranean diet is one of the the world´s two healthiest. The other one is the Japanese one, but unless you like raw fish for breakfast every day, it´s pretty tough for a westerner. (I know - I studied in Japan). If you want more real data on this, "Eat, drink and be healthy" by Dr. Willets, head of nutrition at Harvard goes into detail on how researchers in the 60´s found these folks on Crete to often live to a ripe old age...

1. They don't eat large portions of shit food all the time
2. Something tells me their "fantastic glowing skin" tone is more genetics than diet.