In an industry where consumers spend $40 MILLION US Dollars every year on magical products and programs that guarantee weight loss, the medical community has provided one more reason to eat fruits and vegetables and be healthy: The Mediterranean Diet.
Earlier this year, an
article in a popular business journal helped dispel the myth of the miraculous weight loss claims seen on products across the country saying "Try this and you will shed the pounds, Guaranteed!". Those claims couldn't be farther from the truth, according to a study published in the
New England Journal of Medicine that provided study data supporting that popular diet programs, such as Jenny Craig or, products like TrimSpa or those containing the famed product, hoodia, are ineffective and consumers:
“regain about one-third of the weight lost during the next year and are typically back to baseline in three to five years.”
So with failure being the essential outcome, what is the prescribed course of action for the
two-thirds of the population who are clinically overweight and have been the vulnerable prey of the big bad diet industry?
Fruits and vegetables!
A study published today in a scientific news article described how a diet rich in grains, nuts, olive oil, fruits, veggies and fish, also known as a traditional Mediterranean diet, has been medically proven not only to keep us lean but to protect against
Type II Diabetes, the preventable condition which directly correlated to the national obesity trend.
The study involved over 13,000 participants with no history of diabetes who were asked to follow a particular dietary regime. Their dietary habits, activity levels, medical conditions and risk factors were initially recorded and tracked over a set period. The results?
A high adherence to the diet was associated with an 83% relative reduction in the risk of developing diabetes.
The protective attributes of the high fiber and vegetable oils as well as the low intake of trans-fats were the major players in the study. What was not seen on the menu, or only in small quantities were alcohol and meat.
This study seems to back up a recent
Digital Journal article by Chris V (CGull) laying claims that Jesus' diet would provide us life sustaining nutrition, with vino in moderation, of course.
Whether you are a consumer looking for that miracle product to aide in the process of shedding a few unwanted pounds or one of the two-thirds of Americans and
Canadians who are looking to lower their dangerous health risks associated with being overweight, a diet of delicious vegetables and fruits paired with fish, olive oil, nuts and couscous may be just what the Dr. ordered!
