Mediterranean Diet Will Keep Your Body Fit and Your Brain Healthy

Published: 01/30/2011 By Kerim Sakin

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A typical couch potato will sit at one location and watch TV for several hours without standing up. He rarely moves, except for his fingers to change channels. He consumes greasy foods and unhealthy junk like chips, sodas and cookies. Time stops for a couch potato and if you have been doing this lately, be careful of dire consequences.

 

If you think you have a fit body and a healthy brain because of hours spent analyzing TV shows, you might reconsider. Using only your fingers, while maintaining a posture in the couch hardly counts as an exercise, add to that a pile of junk foods you mindlessly while watching, and you might be far from having a fit body.

 

Lack of exercise and bad eating habits can affect not only your physical health but also your mental capabilities. Watching TV hardly stimulates your brain and can cause dementia. You should engage in interesting hobbies, like reading or playing chess or golf to help your brain function well.

 

If you want to live longer, start eating healthy with Mediterranean diet. This traditional diet can help you achieve a healthy brain and fit body by eating the right combination of fruits, vegetables, fish and olive oil. In order for brain to function well, we need a good dose of nutrients, vitamin c and antioxidants. A Mediterranean diet should be rich in vegetables with higher amounts of antioxidants such as spinach, sprouts, beets, eggplant and bell peppers. By getting enough nutrients from Mediterranean diet, we prevent the attack of free radicals, which can affect our brain cells. These vegetables when eaten regularly can help you achieve a healthy brain and a fit body.

 

Consuming beta-carotene rich vegetables like carrots also, help maintains a healthy brain. If you commit to eating healthy while on a Mediterranean diet, you need to load up on various fruits like blackberries, oranges, cherries and red grapes. These fruits naturally contain a high level of antioxidants needed for your inner systems to function well.

 

Another important element in a Mediterranean diet is the consumption of fish rather than red meat. Fish such as mackerel, sardines and tuna contains anti-inflammatory substances good for the brain. Adding herbs and spices such as ginger can also increase its effectiveness.

 

Include exercise as part of your daily routine while on Mediterranean diet. It helps your brain functions well with enough blood supply and can prevent the onset of dementia. Therefore, start a lifestyle of eating healthy now to a fit body and healthy brain.