Juicing and the Mediterranean Diet
The Mediterranean Diet is hailed as the best heart-healthy diet! It’s based on the traditional cuisine of the people of the Mediterranean region, especially Italy and Greece. With no processed food and lots of home-grown fruits and vegetables, people lived longer and with fewer health problems.
This cuisine is not only full of fresh fruits and veggies but also less meat and more fish, with nuts whole grains and beans. Research has shown that people on this diet lose weight and avoid diseases such as type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s. Juice and blending are great ways to fast-track yourself to the benefits of this incredibly healthy diet.
A Sneaky Way to Eat More Vegetables
Raw vegetables contain far more nutrients than their cooked version because heat destroys certain key compounds.
Green leafy veggies in particular, such as spinach, are a key ingredient in the Mediterranean diet and a juice or smoothie is one of the best ways to quickly and easily increase your intake of these dark green vegetables. Greens are bitter so mixing carrot, apple, beet or any of the sweeter veggies and fruits with your greens can make a delicious drink packed with more nutrients than the best multivitamin!
A Healthy Snack
Increasing your intake of fresh fruit and vegetables with a juice or smoothie is a great way to replace the processed food in your diet. The Mediterranean diet focuses on fresh food and home-made meals. Processed snacks and ready-made-meals are out. So instead of a chocolate bar, give yourself a freshly made juice or smoothie and fill your body with everything you needs between meals.
For Healthy Hearts
Recent studies of the Mediterranean diet show incredible cardiovascular health benefits. Indeed, nutritional science has discovered compounds in fresh fruits and vegetables that fight diseases and delay ageing.
Get Active
It’s important to know that the Mediterranean diet is part of a traditional lifestyle that includes a healthy dose of physical activity and exercise regularly. Fresh juice and smoothies can help here as well. It’s the best way to get all the nutrients you need for an active day. You can tailor your juice or smoothie recipe to super-charge your pre- and post workout. For instance, beets have been found to contain compounds that increase your body’s intake of oxygen. Coconut water can naturally replace the electrolytes you lose when you sweat. And chia seeds are a good plant source of protein for muscle strength training.
Time to start your Mediterranean diet and lifestyle today with a fresh juice or smoothie!