Is Spanish Cuisine Good for You Too?

 

Did you know Spanish and Mediterranean cuisine is considered one of the healthiest diets on the planet? 

Spanish Recipes Can be Part of a Healthy Mediterranean Diet

We have all heard and read about the Mediterranean Diet, which seems to be so popular in newspapers, magazines and especially diet books. Spain is one of more than a dozen countries on the Mediterranean Sea, enjoying lots of sunshine. Therefore, Spanish food contains a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, grains and nuts, a huge selection fish from the Atlantic and Mediterranean, as well as red meat and pork. Although each Mediterranean country has its own cuisine and unique dietary customs, there are general characteristics that are the same throughout the Mediterranean, including Spain:

• Fresh fruits & Vegetables, bread, potatoes, nuts and beans are eaten daily in large quantities.
• Olive oil is the primary source of fat, which is a monounsaturated fat (sometimes called the “good fats”) and does not raise blood cholesterol in the same way that saturated fats and trans fats do.
• Fish is eaten several times a week and contains omega-3 oils, thought to reduce the risk of heart disease.
• Meat and poultry are eaten in smaller quantities.
• Wine is consumed moderately.

(We especially love the bit about the wine!)  You can read more about the benefits here.