The Mediterranean diet, including countries such as Italy, Spain, Greece, Turkey, and Israel, is considered the healthiest due to its sources of protein, healthy fats, and vegetable consumption. Olive oil is a key ingredient, and wine is sometimes consumed with meals. Japan’s diet is also considered healthy due to lean protein sources and small portions.
Although it was speculated in years past that Japan has the healthiest diet in the world, recently there have been rumors in the medical community that the healthiest diet in the world may come from the Mediterranean region. Based on the latest thinking on the healthiest kitchen, there are actually a number of countries that, when grouped together, represent the healthiest diet. Although there are a number of countries that border the Mediterranean, including countries that are part of Europe, Asia, and Africa, the countries most commonly associated with Mediterranean cuisine are Italy, Spain, Greece, Turkey, and sometimes Israel.
The hallmarks of this type of Mediterranean cuisine are the main sources of protein in the diet, the types of fats consumed, and the consumption of healthy servings of vegetables. There are also some in the culinary and medical communities who maintain that part of what makes Mediterranean cuisine the healthiest diet is the practice of frequently drinking a glass of wine with afternoon or evening meals. Important sources of protein in the Mediterranean diet are often low in cholesterol, such as beans and fish. In terms of protein, beans and legumes are consumed in higher amounts than fish and shellfish. Meat is the least common source of protein.
One of the main sources of fat in the Mediterranean diet is olive oil, which is a cholesterol-free source of fat. It is considered a very heart-healthy ingredient and is incorporated into many dishes in the Mediterranean diet, even those made entirely with vegetables and herbs. In addition to including large servings of vegetables, the Mediterranean diet is also rich in whole grains and fruits, which are known to be very healthy staples.
While the Mediterranean diet may be considered the healthiest diet by many in the medical and culinary community, this is not to say that there aren’t many other very healthy diets around the world. Japan, for example, has been discussed in years past for having one of the healthiest diets in the world. This is because Japanese cuisine includes many lean protein sources accompanied by plenty of vegetables and whole grains. Also, one of the keys to Japanese cuisine is small portions, which can help prevent people from gaining weight, which can lead to a host of health problems.
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