The Mediterranean diet, one heavy on veggies, nuts and fruit, with
limits on meat and dairy, is the way to go. Study after study has
shown it is the key to help you live longer and puts you at a lower risk
for cancer and cardiovascular diseases. It even keeps your brain younger and healthier. And while you will feel better and potentially live longer on a diet that favors veggies and fruits, it will also help you maintain a healthy weight and a thinner waist line, which is good for your overall health, self-esteem and mental well-being too. Make your meals heavy on the vegetable,
bean and cereal side. You can eat fish and poultry at least twice a
week. Snack on nuts and fruit. You don't have to do anything so extreme
as avoiding carbs. You can have three servings of those a day,
especially if they are of the whole-grain variety. If you drink, enjoy a
glass of wine with your dinner. The red variety is supposed to be
particularly good for your heart health. Cook with olive oil as opposed
to butter. And limit the amount of saturated fat, meat and dairy. If
you can't give up your bacon or burger habit, be reassured one bite
will not kill you. In fact, the National Cattleman's Beef Association
says the scientific evidence does not support a causal relationship
between red meat or processed meat and cancer. But the International
Agency for Research on Cancer states that,
an estimated 50-gram portion of processed meat you eat increases the
risk of colorectal cancer by 18%. That 50 grams is about two or three
slices of bacon. And of course just because something raises the risk of
cancer doesn't mean you will get it.
So bottom line, if you must eat meat, make it a special treat rather than a staple!
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