We should all eat like a Mediterranean

Opinicus wrote:
Yes indeed. Let's see... If I eat like they do (traditionally) in La
Camargue, in southern France, will that be "Mediterranean" enough?

This certainly qualified as mediterrannean back when I lived there...
Though the diet in southern France is not homogeneous. What you describe
is the southest area, which is pretty close to the standard
mediterrannean diet. Though even there, you have local variations. Just
move 100km north of Camargue, and the diets already start to shift (fish
soups and seashells disappear, salted cod becomes more common, garlic
and thym get even more common...).
The southwest past (Toulouse) is a weird mix of features from the
mediterrannea (vegetables, olive oil, fruits, garlic...) and really
specific parts (duck, goose, duck and good fat, beans, foie gras...).
This is a pretty unique diet, and actually at the root of the "French
paradox". People in that area exhibit exceptionnal health, "despite" a
pretty non-standard diet (and a heavy rugby&party tradition).
Likewise, North Africa is still mediterrannean (olive oil, garlic and
herbs, beans, cereals, fish...) but adds its own mix (mutton and lamb,
honey...).
There might be a common trait among all the mediterrannean diets, but
each country is very specific, that's probably one of the areas of the
world where you have the most diverse diets in the smallest area. That's
also what makes studying these diets so hard, a lot of tiny factors
change when you move around.

Opinicus wrote:
Yes indeed. Let's see... If I eat like they do (traditionally) in La
Camargue, in southern France, will that be "Mediterranean" enough?

This certainly qualified as mediterrannean back when I lived there...
Though the diet in southern France is not homogeneous. What you describe
is the southest area, which is pretty close to the standard
mediterrannean diet. Though even there, you have local variations. Just
move 100km north of Camargue, and the diets already start to shift (fish
soups and seashells disappear, salted cod becomes more common, garlic
and thym get even more common...).
The southwest past (Toulouse) is a weird mix of features from the
mediterrannea (vegetables, olive oil, fruits, garlic...) and really
specific parts (duck, goose, duck and good fat, beans, foie gras...).
This is a pretty unique diet, and actually at the root of the "French
paradox". People in that area exhibit exceptionnal health, "despite" a
pretty non-standard diet (and a heavy rugby&party tradition).
Likewise, North Africa is still mediterrannean (olive oil, garlic and
herbs, beans, cereals, fish...) but adds its own mix (mutton and lamb,
honey...).
There might be a common trait among all the mediterrannean diets, but
each country is very specific, that's probably one of the areas of the
world where you have the most diverse diets in the smallest area. That's
also what makes studying these diets so hard, a lot of tiny factors
change when you move around.

And walk like an Egyptian? LOL
Lee Rodgers
Lowcarb Retreat http://www.lowcarb.org
CHAT http://www.lowcarb.org/parachat.html
Low-Carb Connoisseur http://www.low-carb.com

And walk like an Egyptian? LOL
Lee Rodgers
Lowcarb Retreat http://www.lowcarb.org
CHAT http://www.lowcarb.org/parachat.html
Low-Carb Connoisseur http://www.low-carb.com

Jane Lumley wrote:
And there are plenty of obese people in Southern Italy, Greece and Spain.

Well, less than in the UK for instance, but there are certainly some.
But on average, they tend to be healthier. That's the major mistake of
these studies. A diet is *not* about losing weight, it's about being
healthy (and enjoying good food). The only way to lose weight and/or
maintain low weight is to eat the right amount of calories for your
needs, and plenty of people do that on a McDonald diet. If you put all
America on a mediterrannean diet, you would still have 60% of overweight
people - but on average, they would be healthier than on their current
junk food diet.
Diet is about health only.
Local culture, eating habits and behaviour is what allow people to keep
their weight, it's not diet related. People in Crete are slimmer than in
the USA, because they walk a bunch everyday, and live in a culture where
mass consumption of food is not promoted, and probably a bunch of other
reasons deeply burried in the local culture (religion, stress level,
philosophy of life...).

Jane Lumley wrote:
And there are plenty of obese people in Southern Italy, Greece and Spain.

Well, less than in the UK for instance, but there are certainly some.
But on average, they tend to be healthier. That's the major mistake of
these studies. A diet is *not* about losing weight, it's about being
healthy (and enjoying good food). The only way to lose weight and/or
maintain low weight is to eat the right amount of calories for your
needs, and plenty of people do that on a McDonald diet. If you put all
America on a mediterrannean diet, you would still have 60% of overweight
people - but on average, they would be healthier than on their current
junk food diet.
Diet is about health only.
Local culture, eating habits and behaviour is what allow people to keep
their weight, it's not diet related. People in Crete are slimmer than in
the USA, because they walk a bunch everyday, and live in a culture where
mass consumption of food is not promoted, and probably a bunch of other
reasons deeply burried in the local culture (religion, stress level,
philosophy of life...).

In article , Matti Narkia
writes
Other linolenic acid-rich ingredients of the Cretan diet--
walnuts, snails, and purslane--were replaced by his
margarine. Although linolenic acid's protective effects have
been corroborated in other studies, Ducimetière warns that
"the extraordinary [Lyon] results await confirmation"."

How typical! Purslane is lovely, and walnuts are too. And snails are
fabulous, especially Cretan ones.

But I saw lots of cheese in Crete, and also quite a lot of podgy locals.
Mind you, I also had the best-cooked fish I've ever had in my life in a
tiny roadside taverna.

--
Jane Lumley

In article ,
Lictor writes
People in Crete are slimmer than in the USA, because they walk a bunch everyday,

I'm betting it's the hills.... .

and live in a culture where mass consumption of food is not promoted, and
probably a bunch of other reasons deeply burried in the local culture (religion,
stress level, philosophy of life...).

Yup. I'd say it's the values rather than the diet. It's a remarkably
vital place. The village I lived in was amazing; grandpas asleep on
their porches every pm, lovingly watched by locals. Their generous
hospitality was also warming and astounding. But Cretans themselves are
inclined to abandon the old ways for modernity, and it's a bit much to
blame them for it. Working in the fields all day and then weaving all
night is pretty exhausting, but that was the old way for Cretan women.
--
Jane Lumley

Jane,

Walking the hills, weaving all day, and giving birth to and raising 13
children. Don't forget the latter!

I suspect the Mediterranean diet data is taken from men only, as is the case
with many health studies. Older Mediterranean women may be many things, but
slim is not one of them.

-- Jenny - Low Carbing for 5 years. Below goal for weight. Type 2 diabetes,
hba1c 5.7 .
Cut the carbs to respond to my email address!

Jenny's new site: What they Don't Tell You About Diabetes
http://www.geocities.com/lottadata4u/

Jenny's Low Carb Diet Facts & Figures
http://www.geocities.com/jenny_the_bean/

Looking for help controlling your blood sugar?
Visit http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/...0Diagnosed.htm


"Jane Lumley" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Lictor writes
People in Crete are slimmer than in the USA, because they walk a bunch
everyday,

I'm betting it's the hills.... .

and live in a culture where mass consumption of food is not promoted, and
probably a bunch of other reasons deeply burried in the local culture
(religion,
stress level, philosophy of life...).

Yup. I'd say it's the values rather than the diet. It's a remarkably
vital place. The village I lived in was amazing; grandpas asleep on
their porches every pm, lovingly watched by locals. Their generous
hospitality was also warming and astounding. But Cretans themselves are
inclined to abandon the old ways for modernity, and it's a bit much to
blame them for it. Working in the fields all day and then weaving all
night is pretty exhausting, but that was the old way for Cretan women.
--
Jane Lumley

Jane,

Walking the hills, weaving all day, and giving birth to and raising 13
children. Don't forget the latter!

I suspect the Mediterranean diet data is taken from men only, as is the case
with many health studies. Older Mediterranean women may be many things, but
slim is not one of them.

-- Jenny - Low Carbing for 5 years. Below goal for weight. Type 2 diabetes,
hba1c 5.7 .
Cut the carbs to respond to my email address!

Jenny's new site: What they Don't Tell You About Diabetes
http://www.geocities.com/lottadata4u/

Jenny's Low Carb Diet Facts & Figures
http://www.geocities.com/jenny_the_bean/

Looking for help controlling your blood sugar?
Visit http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/...0Diagnosed.htm


"Jane Lumley" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Lictor writes
People in Crete are slimmer than in the USA, because they walk a bunch
everyday,

I'm betting it's the hills.... .

and live in a culture where mass consumption of food is not promoted, and
probably a bunch of other reasons deeply burried in the local culture
(religion,
stress level, philosophy of life...).

Yup. I'd say it's the values rather than the diet. It's a remarkably
vital place. The village I lived in was amazing; grandpas asleep on
their porches every pm, lovingly watched by locals. Their generous
hospitality was also warming and astounding. But Cretans themselves are
inclined to abandon the old ways for modernity, and it's a bit much to
blame them for it. Working in the fields all day and then weaving all
night is pretty exhausting, but that was the old way for Cretan women.
--
Jane Lumley