A Mediterranean Diet Can Improve Health, Including a lowering of the Risk for Diabetes

Some people consider the Mediterranean area to be the cradle of civilization, and here is where the Mediterranean diet is said to have its roots. The foundation of the diet consists of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and legumes. Olive oil is used in place of butter and salt is replaced with herbs and spices. Olive oil is highly valued in the diet. Red meat is consumed only infrequently, while fish and poultry are eaten frequently.  The diet has been proven to be a healthy eating regimen. And past research found that the Mediterranean diet can reduce the risk of diabetes.

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the sugar in the blood is too high. The body makes insulin, and the insulin is used to remove the sugar from the blood and take the sugar to cells, which use the sugar for energy. Diabetes results from a break -down of the insulin-sugar process. People generally have one of three types of diabetes. There is type 1 diabetes, where the body does not make enough insulin. There is type 2 diabetes, where the body makes insulin, but it may not be enough to keep the body healthy. And then there is gestational diabetes.  This type of diabetes occurs during pregnancy. But it usually goes away after the pregnancy.

Type 2 diabetes, the most common kind of diabetes, is usually associated with family history or an unhealthy lifestyle. And an unhealthy lifestyle often includes an unhealthy diet. The Mediterranean diet is one of the most studied diets, and the diet has been found to be beneficial to our mental and physical health. For example, the Mediterranean diet is associated with healthy brain function, and a lowering of the risk of metabolic syndrome.

And a meta-analysis, reported on in 2022, showed that following a Mediterranean diet (MD) can lower the risk of diabetes. In fact, the researchers indicated that "Even modest adherence to the MD was linked to a decreased incidence of type 2 diabetes."

Therefore, the Mediterranean diet has again proven to be an important dietary weapon for maintaining good health.

-------------------------------------------------------

Tags: environmental scanning, balanced scorecard, business planning, strategic management, bariatric medicine, obesity medicine, medical practice start up, bariatric industry analysis, weight loss industry analysis, weight management industry analysis