A Mediterranean lifestyle can also help you feel and look your best. A diet high in nutrients, moderate activity, and lots of laughter with friends lets you enjoy the benefits of health! Here are some of the ways you can age gracefully with a Mediterranean lifestyle.
Increased longevity: The NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 2007 found that people who closely adhered to a Mediterranean-style diet were 12 to 20 percent less likely to die from cancer and all causes.
Wrinkle reduction: A study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition in 2001 found that people who consumed a diet high in fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and fish had less skin wrinkling. Of course, this arena needs far more research, but try the theory out at home to see your own results. Sure beats plastic surgery, right?
Smoother skin: Eating a diet high in vitamin C foods, such as oranges, strawberries, and broccoli, plays an important role in the production of collagen, the skin’s support structure.
Bone density maintenance: Moderate weight-bearing exercise such as walking or lifting weights can maintain good bone density, keeping your bones strong and helping you avoid bone fractures later in life.
Tension taming: A good laugh reduces tension and stress in the body, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes. Stress can lead to depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, and heart disease, all of which contribute to aging and a reduced quality of life.
Inflammation reduction: Inflammation can affect your heart health, joints, and skin. Eating a diet high in anti-inflammatory foods such as cold-water fish, walnuts, flaxseeds, and fresh herbs can help keep you feeling your best.
Lowered Alzheimer’s risk: A 2006 study at Columbia University Medical Center showed that participants who followed a Mediterranean-style diet had 40 percent lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease than those who didn’t.
