The Mediterranean Diet

I think the better weather, close family connections and interaction combined with the food are all important. I love the food myself, generally eat a lot less meat when abroad than I do at home. Do indulge in the sweets and puddings too, you have to have a treat.

I take the view that a nice Sauvignon blanc is healthier than 1000 bottles of red. At least you'd still be alive to have another glass or two

So a nice Sauvignon Blanc is not good then ....

Maybe several kilos of raspberries and a big bar of dark chocolate as well, Elegran?

We'd better get cracking at once, RQ

The good news is that scientists have discovered that a chemical found in red wine could help slow the onset of dementia. The bad news is that you would have to drink 1,000 bottles a day to get enough of it. Researchers found that resveratrol - a naturally occurring compound found in red grapes, raspberries, dark chocolate and some red wines – may affect the underlying processes that cause Alzheimer’s disease

1,000 bottles a day is rather a lot tiggypiro

I meant that the 'rules' will be changed again next week not my diet !

It seems that if we don't smoke or drink alcohol, are not overweight and take exercise then we are less likely to suffer from dementia. I am hoping that as I am fine on 3 of those then I can carry on with the wine. I also eat lots of the things associated with the Mediterranean diet so I must be fine.

At least I shall be for this week as no doubt it will be all change next.

My DH loves churros and that cup of thick chocolate when we are in Spain. Unfortunately, due to his diabetes he can no longer partake

Cheers

Thanks nonnasusie

Don't forget the Pizza. There's a pizzeria on every corner in and around here (Cassino)!!

Oh Deedaa now

I thought I'd found an excuse for tiramisu and pannacotta

There is no cream in a proper Carbonara, Italian sausages and all meats are eaten in smaller quantities than in this country, Gelato is lower fat than British Ice Cream and fresh fruit is the most usual dessert - the others are for special occasions.

I agree - I actually made myself chips the other night, I hadn't had any for months as I have been dieting. I hadn't even thought of them for all that time, but suddenly had a craving early this week. It wouldn't go away so I gave in.

It does get tedious doesn't it, all the advice about diet that seems to change as often as the weather. Don't eat more than an egg a week, eat flora not butter etc. Now sugar is the devil, worse than smoking some say. I love eating a med diet in Greece, it's so easy, endless and cheap supply of good quality and very tasty vegetables to make salads or main meals with Eat fish two or three days a week, meat one or two its so simple. Arrive home in last September and I don't know about everyone else, but I want cottage pie, fish n chips and other truly wicked foods.

I love freshly-made churros.

Yes, the diet of those in the med has changed for the worse, much like ours. A friend who lives in Sicily says that the statistics for those with diabetes is horrific, because now everyone can afford to eat ice cream in a sort of halved doughnut sandwich every morning for a snack, bits of bbq'd pork fat on kebab sticks and various other fatty delicacies.

That is a point. Both Spain and France have mediterranean coasts. Think of the Balearics and all that cheap booze!!

I'll stick to pannacotte or tiramisu or tarte tatin or .... then

You can eat churros in our local shopping mall now.

Churros and hot chocolate are traditionally eaten at about 5am after a night out. It soaks up the alcohol apparently.
Revolting, I think.

pastry, not pasty

I'm thinking of it MOnica

what are churros?
Oh, looked it up - a sort of choux pasty doughnut
Worth a try if I see any on my travels, especially with the chocolate sauce

It's probably the Vitamin D they get from the that makes them healthy. And a glug of red wine.

Yes, that probably contributes towards their longevity as well!

Can we have a mediterranean climate to go with it please?

Surly they eat chocolate in the Mediterranean.