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| Does a Mediterranean Diet Combined with an Asian Diet Equal the World's Healthiest Diet? |
June 15, 2004 -- Most of us are aware that a traditional Mediterranean diet is very healthy. It’s also common knowledge that a traditional Asian diet is very good for your health. So what would happen if you combined both these diets into one?
That's exactly what a couple living in Australia have done. For over 12 years graphic designer Ric Watson and travel manager Trudy Thelander have been following what they call a "MediterrAsian diet" -- literally meaning a fusion of Mediterranean and Asian diets.
Combining these types of diets together sounds like it could be complicated, but that's not the case according to Watson.
"Actually the traditional diets eaten in Mediterranean and Asian countries share many similarities," he says. "For example, vegetables, grains, fruits and legumes are eaten in abundant amounts by both Mediterranean and Asian peoples. And red meat doesn't feature prominently in either cuisine -- instead fish, shellfish, poultry and plant-foods such as beans and nuts form the main sources of protein. Mediterranean and Asian peoples also traditionally favor healthy vegetable fats such as olive or peanut oil over animal fats. And moderate alcohol consumption, particularly with meals, has also been a popular practice throughout Asia and the Mediterranean for centuries."
But how does this way of eating work in practice? Thelander says it's probably the easiest way of eating to follow because you get to enjoy so many tasty foods.
"Most diets are low this or low that, but a MediterrAsian way of eating is balanced and contains a mixture of carbs, protein and fat, so we don't feel deprived. But I think what makes this way of eating particularly enjoyable is that it not only tastes delicious, you also know this food is doing your body good in a physical sense as well."
So inspired have the couple been by this way of eating that they've created a free Web site called MediterrAsian.com to show other Westerners how they can incorporate these same practices into their own lives.
"This way of eating has kept us lean and healthy for years without leaving us feeling deprived," says Watson. "It's also backed up by lots and lots of good science. We simply want to show people in this age of fad diets that there’s a tasty, healthy and scientifically proven alternative."
About Mediterrasian.com.
MediterrAsian.com (http://www.mediterrasian.com) is a free Web site run by New Zealander Ric Watson and Australian Trudy Thelander who have both been incorporating traditional Mediterranean and Asian dietary and lifestyle practices into their lives for over 12 years. They have created MediterrAsian.com to show other Westerners how they can easily incorporate these same healthy practices into their own lives. MediterrAsian.com is updated monthly and contains dozens of healthy Mediterranean and Asian recipes, cooking and lifestyle tips, recipe makeovers, shopping lists, a seven day diet and lifestyle plan, and much more.
This article courtesy of http://www.dietforslim.net/.
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