Bust Out the Olive Oil: May is Mediterranean Diet Month!

The Greeks sure know how to eat—eat well that is. In fact, so do the French, the Italians, and anyone else bordering the Mediterranean Sea for that matter. This month we’re celebrating the health benefits of the tasty Mediterranean diet—because May is Mediterranean Diet Month!

The Mediterranean diet is really quite a simple concept, boasting healthy yet delicious foods that can be crafted into hundreds of unique and flavourful dishes. It emphasizes fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, legumes, seeds, herbs and spices, olive oil, fresh fish and other seafood, and occasionally poultry, eggs, cheese, and yogourt, as well as red wine.

In addition, the Mediterranean diet highlights the importance of regular exercise and enjoying meals with friends and family.

If you hadn’t already figured it out, the Mediterranean diet is a formula for health.  After all, that’s what you get when you combine whole foods with exercise.

Specific health benefits of the Mediterranean diet include:

• lowered LDL (bad) cholesterol
• lowered triglycerides
• decreased blood clotting
• decreased risk of sudden heart attack
• reduced risk of heart attack
• healthy blood pressure maintenance

To reap the health rewards of this diet, lean into it by adding more of the staples into your diet each week. Further, take time out of your hectic day to go for a walk, enjoy your friends and family, and try out one of these Mediterranean-inspired dishes.

• Mouth-Watering Mediterranean Stir-Fry
• Greek Frittata Slice
• Marinated Feta, Olive, and Roasted Red Pepper Skewers
• Mediterranean Sauté
• Mediterranean Pizza
• Pumpkin Chickpea Hummus