The Mediterranean Diet

Readers of books by popular health writers such as Dr. Andrew Weil and others will recognize the phrase Mediterranean diet, which is recommended repeatedly because of its heart-healthy qualities. Just what IS a Mediterranean diet? is the question Marissa Cloutier and Eve Adamson answer in this reasoned and informative guide. The authors provide an overview of the diet using a helpful question-and-answer format, followed by a breakdown by food item, along with information on vitamins, antioxidants, and the benefits and sources of Omega-3. They have also designed a Mediterranean diet food pyramid that compares to the USDA and AHA pyramids. Their recipes are easy to follow and to prepare, and the cuisine adjusts easily to a single person as well as to a family. Foods can be introduced in a variety of ways, at any meal: if you realize that lunch is your undoing, you can change that unhealthy habit by simply following one or two of the authors's suggestions. The authors present what they stress are merely guidelines in a highly supportive manner, and convince us that the Mediterranean way is both a diet and a lifestyle that is reachable for American families. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.