Following a Mediterranean lifestyle has many health benefits. In as much as this new diet encourages a lot of substitution of food that has been always a mainstay in the pantry, there are still a lot of misconstrued ideas regarding the diet.
The following are four myths you should stop believing to achieve your health and fitness goal thru the Mediterranean diet.
Myth 1: "You can eat as much cheese as you want"
Although consuming cheese is a common Mediterranean practice, stuffing your body with too much cheese will make way for the buildup of unwanted calories and saturated fats. Giving your body extra bulges in the long run. However, it is recommended to use strong-flavored cheeses such as feta or goat cheese to help bring out rich flavor with just a little serving.
Myth 2: "Eating large bowls of pasta with bread is totally fine"
A highly Mediterranean diet has been always associated with heavy Italian cooking and that means, pasta is the way to go! But this doesn't mean that consuming a large bowl is okay -Italian and American portioning is way different! The usual serving size of the Mediterranean is about 1/2-cup to 1-cup serving size and it only serves as a side dish, served with lots of greens, meat and veggies and a slice of bread.
Myth 3: "Drinking as much wine as you want is good for the heart"
While it is true that wine does have health benefits for the heart; it should be taken in moderation - that is one drink a day for women and two for men. Anything more than two glasses a day can pose a serious threat on your health.
Myth 4: "You don't have to go to the gym"
Physical activity plays a huge role in losing the bulges you've been meaning to get rid off. As evidenced by those living on Greek islands, they may not have the gym equipment but walking up and down steep hills are part of their daily routine as they care for their garden and animals.
