Extra virgin olive oil is one of the main ingredients of the Mediterranean diet, one of the healthiest ways of eating in the world. But what exactly is the Mediterranean diet?
Simply put, the Mediterranean diet is the traditional diet eaten by people living in the Mediterranean area. Because this is a vast area covering many countries in South Europe and North Africa, there is no one Mediterranean way of eating. However, there are common foods in this area that make it one of the healthiest in the world.
Foods in the Mediterranean diet
The Mediterranean diet is mainly plant-based1.
Enjoy plenty of
Only small amounts of
And very little
Find out how to choose a good quality extra virgin olive oil
https://olivewellnessinstitute.org/extra-virgin-olive-oil/
The Mediterranean diet: The healthiest diet in the world!
In 2020, the Mediterranean diet was assessed as the healthiest diet in the world for the third year in a row by U.S. News & World Report2.
Following a Mediterranean-style diet has been linked to a reduction in3
How extra virgin olive oil fits into the Mediterranean diet
One of the highlights of the Mediterranean diet is that it’s low in saturated fat and high in plant-based fats such as polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. And extra virgin olive oil is the traditional oil used in Mediterranean countries.
Extra virgin olive oil contributes high levels of monounsaturated fatty acids and antioxidant phytochemicals: polyphenols, phytosterols and vitamin E to the Mediterranean diet. These are the compounds that are thought to be responsible for many of the health benefits experienced when following the Mediterranean diet4,5.
Read more about the health benefits of extra virgin olive oil.
https://olivewellnessinstitute.org/extra-virgin-olive-oil/health-benefits-of-extra-virgin-olive-oil/
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