Live Longer with Mediterranean Food A healthy alternative with benefits!

Typically when you think about Mediterranean food, your mind probably wanders to kabob, hummus and pita. A true Mediterranean diet, however, goes beyond the obvious.  A more authentic meal consists mainly of fruits and vegetables, seafood, olive oil, hearty grains and other foods that help fight against heart disease, certain cancers, diabetes and cognitive decline.  It is a diet worth following.
After World War II, a study led by Ancel Keys of the Mayo Foundation examined the diets and health of almost 13,000 middle-aged men in the US, Japan, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, Finland and Yugoslavia.  It was the men of Crete who enjoyed the best cardiovascular health, due to physical labor and their unique food pyramid.
The Mediterranean Diet Pyramid is based on the dietary traditions of Crete, Greece and southern Italy circa 1960 – a time when the rates of chronic disease among populations were amount the lowest in the world, and adult life expectancy was among the highest, even though medical services were limited.  Benefits of a Mediterranean diet include:
• Protecting against type two diabetes: A Mediterranean diet is rich in fiber, slowing down digestion and preventing huge swings in blood sugar.
• Preventing heart disease and strokes: Refined breads, processed foods and red meat are discouraged in a Mediterranean diet, and it encourages drinking red wine instead of hard liquor, which have all been linked to heart disease and stroke prevention.
• Keeping you agile: The nutrients gained with a Mediterranean diet may reduce a senior’s risk of developing muscle weakness and other signs of frailty by about 70 percent.
• Reducing risk of Alzheimer’s: Researchers speculate the Mediterranean diet may improve cholesterol, blood sugar levels and overall blood vessel health – all factors that may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.
• Increased longevity: When the risk of developing heart disease of cancer decreases, as it does when you follow a Mediterranean diet, there is a 20 percent reduced risk of death at any age.
If you are looking for a healthy, nutritious and delicious Mediterranean meal, please make sure to visit Sam’s Flaming Grill!  Their menu offers items such as: kabobs, shawarma, rotisserie chicken, wraps, salads, traditional side dishes and more!
We have four locations to serve you: Saugus – 23874 Copper Hill, 661-296-0103; Canyon Country – 19437 Soledad Canyon Rd., 661-298- 0115; Valencia – 25347 Wayne Mills Place, 661-254-2154; and Santa Clarita – 24802 Orchard Village Rd., 661-222-9060. Or visit www.samsflaminggrill.com.