The Mediterranean diet is known as the best healthy diet in Dubai and around the world. It can help you live longer, stay fit, keep your brain healthy, and reduce your risk of diseases like diabetes, hypertension, etc.
Here’s how you can make your diet more Mediterranean:
01/ Eat More Plant-Based Foods.
Increase your consumption of fruits and vegetables to at least five servings per day, and opt for meatless meals at least twice a week. You can include legumes such as lentils, chickpeas, and fava beans. Start each meal with a plant-based soup, like tomato or broccoli soup, or a salad. For dessert, instead of calorie-heavy options, choose fresh fruit or fruit-based desserts like apple crumble.
If you’re following a vegan or vegetarian diet plan in Dubai, this is good news for you because you’re already enjoying much of the Mediterranean way of eating.
02/ Enjoy Bread … and Pasta!.
The Mediterranean diet is not low in carbs, yet people who follow it have the lowest rates of obesity in the world! That’s because they make smart quality carb choices, such as complex carbs (whole bread and brow pasta) as well as whole grains like couscous and oat. So no need to be afraid of carbs anymore!
03/ Switch Red Meat for Fish.
Seafood and fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for the heart and brain. In the Mediterranean region, people generally eat fish and seafood at least three times a week.
04/ Consume Healthy Oils and Good Fats.
While a Mediterranean diet is not low in fat, it is low in unhealthy saturated fats like those found in full-fat dairy and red meat. Replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats can reduce your risk of heart disease. Choose foods rich in monounsaturated fats, like olive oil and canola oil, or polyunsaturated fats like fatty fish (salmon, trout), walnuts, and sunflower oil.