Why do people in the Mediterranean live longer?

 Following the Mediterranean lifestyle is one of the biggest craze these days. A number of studies have proven that living like the people of Southern Italy, Greece, Turkey, Spain and Cyrpus will make you live longer. One such study is the one conducted by The American Association of Retired Persons which shows that people who follow a diet close to the Mediterranean diet have 20% less chance of dying of cancer and heart attack. Following a Mediterranean lifestyle is actually not that hard, and you can actually practice it even when you’re in America. Here are more reasons on why you’d want to follow the lifestyle practiced in the Mediterranean area. 

PEOPLE ENJOY EACH OTHER

The people of the Mediterranean are naturally friendly. They talk to their neighbors, invite them over and have simple meals with them. A good relationship with the people around you have proven to be a great way to get rid of stress, and this in turn gives you a better outlook in life. One of the main causes of a lot of illnesses is stress, and it’s nice to know that something as easy as being friendly will save you from a lot of sickness.

THEY EAT WELL

The Mediterranean diet is one of the most talked- about topics in the world of fitness and health today. Studies have shown that this may be the healthiest eating pattern in the world, which also contributes to the long life people live in the Mediterranean. The countries around the Mediterranean basin, especially Greece, are popular for using olive oil.  They rarely use butter or margarine, and olive oil is the main fat source for these people. Extra virgin olive oil is a great source of monounsaturated fat, which means it doesn’t stick to your arteries like other kind of oil does. This leads to lesser chances of heart attacks, which is also caused fatty foods. 

THEY HAVE GREAT WEATHER

The areas around the Mediterranean basin have short winters and long summers. This means people get to have more time to enjoy the sun, which they use for sitting near the ocean while enjoying a bowl of salad or a cup of coffee. Because they have longer summer, these countries are also abundant in fresh fruits and vegetable. In fact, this is what mostly consist their diet. Fruits and vegetable are known to have great health benefits, and this is another reason why people in the Mediterranean get to live more.

WINE IS A PART OF THEIR DIET

The people living in the Mediterranean have red wine as a part of their diet. Red wine contains a great percentage of polyphenols, which is a great antioxidant. Drinking moderate amounts of red wine often has also found to decrease the chances of developing coronary heart diseases-- virtually unheard of in the Mediterranean. There’s also a reason why the people in this area seems to age longer. Resveratrol, a component found in the skin of red grapes, which is the main ingredient of red wine, has been found out to reduce the effects of aging—both physically and physiologically.