Comments on: The Traditional Diet of Greece http://www.realfooduniversity.com/the-traditional-diet-of-greece/ Master Your Kitchen. Eat Real Food. Sat, 14 Apr 2012 16:09:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Mediterranean Cuisine: More than just Olive Oil | Diets Around the World http://www.realfooduniversity.com/the-traditional-diet-of-greece/comment-page-1/#comment-4473 Mediterranean Cuisine: More than just Olive Oil | Diets Around the World Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:45:36 +0000 http://www.fitnessspotlight.com/?p=642#comment-4473 [...] Around 1975, under the impulse of one of those new nutritional directives by which good cooking is too often influenced, the Americans discovered the so-called Mediterranean diet…. The name… even pleased Italian government officials, who made one modification: changing from diet-a word which has always seemed punitive and therefore unpleasant-to Mediterranean cuisine.” (Source) [...] [...] Around 1975, under the impulse of one of those new nutritional directives by which good cooking is too often influenced, the Americans discovered the so-called Mediterranean diet…. The name… even pleased Italian government officials, who made one modification: changing from diet-a word which has always seemed punitive and therefore unpleasant-to Mediterranean cuisine.” (Source) [...]

]]> By: anton http://www.realfooduniversity.com/the-traditional-diet-of-greece/comment-page-1/#comment-687 anton Sat, 14 Mar 2009 02:01:12 +0000 http://www.fitnessspotlight.com/?p=642#comment-687 I've heard greek foods are delicious. must try myself to confirm. :) I’ve heard greek foods are delicious. must try myself to confirm. :)

]]> By: The Traditional Diet of Greece | Fitness Spotlight http://www.realfooduniversity.com/the-traditional-diet-of-greece/comment-page-1/#comment-686 The Traditional Diet of Greece | Fitness Spotlight Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:04:41 +0000 http://www.fitnessspotlight.com/?p=642#comment-686 [...] vegetables, along with getting meat primarily from chickens and geese from their farm yards.” > Read the Full Article Here Read More Posts Like This One:Live Fast Die Young - The Life of a Meat [...] [...] vegetables, along with getting meat primarily from chickens and geese from their farm yards.” > Read the Full Article Here Read More Posts Like This One:Live Fast Die Young – The Life of a Meat [...]

]]> By: Alex http://www.realfooduniversity.com/the-traditional-diet-of-greece/comment-page-1/#comment-685 Alex Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:47:17 +0000 http://www.fitnessspotlight.com/?p=642#comment-685 I'm Greek and have traveled to Greece (live in the US). There are "a lot" of potatoes and grains (bread/some pasta) in the diet, but there are tons of veggies and lean meats, as you've described. I recently watched Anthony Bourdain in Greece and the folks in the show attributed their good health to all the greens they eat (the wild greens you mentioned). It seems that the classic diet, even with a little bread and potatoes, was fairly healthy, even by some low-carb standards. Olive oil, meat, veggies, fruits. Pretty decent. I can tell you that the vegetables and fruit there are absolutely outstanding. It really was the best tomato I ever ate! And the best feta. And the best figs. Pork was the main meat on the island where we were, and it was absolutely awesome - a pork chop that tastes like bacon? Why, yes! But I found that they have added things like french fries (souvlaki with french fries ON the sandwich) and ice cream to all the restaurant menus. This must account for part of the decline in health. One last note: Overall, I don't think my relatives were very thin (and not necessarily obese either), but they do seem to have pretty decent longevity. Of course, that's just a personal observation. I’m Greek and have traveled to Greece (live in the US). There are “a lot” of potatoes and grains (bread/some pasta) in the diet, but there are tons of veggies and lean meats, as you’ve described. I recently watched Anthony Bourdain in Greece and the folks in the show attributed their good health to all the greens they eat (the wild greens you mentioned). It seems that the classic diet, even with a little bread and potatoes, was fairly healthy, even by some low-carb standards. Olive oil, meat, veggies, fruits. Pretty decent.

I can tell you that the vegetables and fruit there are absolutely outstanding. It really was the best tomato I ever ate! And the best feta. And the best figs. Pork was the main meat on the island where we were, and it was absolutely awesome – a pork chop that tastes like bacon? Why, yes! But I found that they have added things like french fries (souvlaki with french fries ON the sandwich) and ice cream to all the restaurant menus. This must account for part of the decline in health.

One last note: Overall, I don’t think my relatives were very thin (and not necessarily obese either), but they do seem to have pretty decent longevity. Of course, that’s just a personal observation.

]]> By: Scott Kustes http://www.realfooduniversity.com/the-traditional-diet-of-greece/comment-page-1/#comment-684 Scott Kustes Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:35:18 +0000 http://www.fitnessspotlight.com/?p=642#comment-684 Mike, Here are some answers regarding disease in Greece: <a href="http://www.alternative-healthzine.com/html/0103_1.html" target="new" rel="nofollow">Obesity and heart disease</a>: "The Southern Europeans tend to be worse in terms of obesity than those in the North. Greece is the worst - with 35% of its men overweight. .... However, although the Greeks are the most overweight people in Europe, they have a long life - being placed 7th in a longevity league of 191 countries. Also, they have the lowest heart disease rate in Europe." Skyler, I don't know anything of fact concerning grains vs. lactose tolerance, but if you think about The Fertile Crescent, the birthplace of civilization, you see that those areas that you mentioned have had the longest to adapt to grains. However, they also domesticated animals, so they've had plenty of time to adapt to dairy as well. Lemur, thanks! I loved this one too. Anna, we have a "Mediterranean Deli" here that serves some pretty good Greek-ish food. But I now have this incredible urge to go to Greece and try some real Greek food. Cheers Scott Mike, Here are some answers regarding disease in Greece:

Obesity and heart disease:
“The Southern Europeans tend to be worse in terms of obesity than those in the North. Greece is the worst – with 35% of its men overweight.
….
However, although the Greeks are the most overweight people in Europe, they have a long life – being placed 7th in a longevity league of 191 countries. Also, they have the lowest heart disease rate in Europe.”

Skyler, I don’t know anything of fact concerning grains vs. lactose tolerance, but if you think about The Fertile Crescent, the birthplace of civilization, you see that those areas that you mentioned have had the longest to adapt to grains. However, they also domesticated animals, so they’ve had plenty of time to adapt to dairy as well.

Lemur, thanks! I loved this one too.

Anna, we have a “Mediterranean Deli” here that serves some pretty good Greek-ish food. But I now have this incredible urge to go to Greece and try some real Greek food.

Cheers
Scott

]]> By: Anna http://www.realfooduniversity.com/the-traditional-diet-of-greece/comment-page-1/#comment-683 Anna Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:49:39 +0000 http://www.fitnessspotlight.com/?p=642#comment-683 My understanding is that the researcher Ancel Keys, the father of the lipid-heart theory, is the one who started and popularized the "mythical Mediterranean diet" in the 50s and afterwards. I've not been to Greece (yet), but my husband has been several times in the past 30 years. He loves the food, and said that last trip was the best (and finally not eating the grains and desserts). My experience with Greek food has been limited to Greek-American and Greek-Australian. Greek-American varies quite a bit from awful to very good. Australia gained a high number of Greek immigrants after WWII (national security policy to increase population with immigration). We had a fantastic "Greek" meal in Melbourne, served "family-style" that was truly memorable. I had never had Americanized Greek food as good as that meal, with such variety and authenticity. My husband said it was the best Greek food he had ever had outside of Greece. A Greek Orthodox church in our city has an annual festival in September; I love going for the music and to eat the grilled meats. But I stay out of the "sweets" zone. All that phyllo dough and sticky honey is dangerous territory! My understanding is that the researcher Ancel Keys, the father of the lipid-heart theory, is the one who started and popularized the “mythical Mediterranean diet” in the 50s and afterwards.

I’ve not been to Greece (yet), but my husband has been several times in the past 30 years. He loves the food, and said that last trip was the best (and finally not eating the grains and desserts).

My experience with Greek food has been limited to Greek-American and Greek-Australian. Greek-American varies quite a bit from awful to very good. Australia gained a high number of Greek immigrants after WWII (national security policy to increase population with immigration). We had a fantastic “Greek” meal in Melbourne, served “family-style” that was truly memorable. I had never had Americanized Greek food as good as that meal, with such variety and authenticity. My husband said it was the best Greek food he had ever had outside of Greece.

A Greek Orthodox church in our city has an annual festival in September; I love going for the music and to eat the grilled meats. But I stay out of the “sweets” zone. All that phyllo dough and sticky honey is dangerous territory!

]]> By: Lemur http://www.realfooduniversity.com/the-traditional-diet-of-greece/comment-page-1/#comment-682 Lemur Sun, 13 Apr 2008 19:10:21 +0000 http://www.fitnessspotlight.com/?p=642#comment-682 Nice work, this is probably my favorite installment thus far. Really makes me want to travel there! Nice work, this is probably my favorite installment thus far. Really makes me want to travel there!

]]> By: Skyler Tanner http://www.realfooduniversity.com/the-traditional-diet-of-greece/comment-page-1/#comment-681 Skyler Tanner Fri, 11 Apr 2008 21:18:43 +0000 http://www.fitnessspotlight.com/?p=642#comment-681 I wonder, and haven't had the time to explore this notion in full, but it seems that the places that best handle grain (med, northeast asia) also seem to be the most lactose intolerant. Any light you can shed on this? I wonder, and haven’t had the time to explore this notion in full, but it seems that the places that best handle grain (med, northeast asia) also seem to be the most lactose intolerant. Any light you can shed on this?

]]> By: Mike OD - IF Life http://www.realfooduniversity.com/the-traditional-diet-of-greece/comment-page-1/#comment-680 Mike OD - IF Life Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:05:03 +0000 http://www.fitnessspotlight.com/?p=642#comment-680 Great article. I am curious, do you know what the rates of certain diseases are like high BP, arthritis, heart disease, dental, etc? I know everyone says the med diet is heart healthy, but I am curious what numbers those are based upon. Also just seeing the high amount of grains in the diet, one would assume that some issues would be present that give the "grain" the bad reputation such as arthritis, dental cavities, autoimmune disorders, etc. Just curious what the data shows on all that as I honestly have no idea. Great article. I am curious, do you know what the rates of certain diseases are like high BP, arthritis, heart disease, dental, etc? I know everyone says the med diet is heart healthy, but I am curious what numbers those are based upon. Also just seeing the high amount of grains in the diet, one would assume that some issues would be present that give the “grain” the bad reputation such as arthritis, dental cavities, autoimmune disorders, etc. Just curious what the data shows on all that as I honestly have no idea.

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