Is Italian Wine Really a Staple of the Mediterranean Diet?

It shouldn’t come as any surprise that Italians love the Mediterranean diet.

Why wouldn’t they? They’re in the heart of the Mediterranean and a lot of Italian foods slot into the diet easily.

But is Italian wine a part of that diet.

It’s actually quite the debate. Any wine lover will tell you that it is, of course, part of the diet. But them there are those who believe that adding wine into the mix could actually restrict some of the benefits that the diet provides.

That’s the issue that we’re going to look at in this article.

First, we’re going to look at what the diet is and a few of its benefits. Then, we’ll confront the question of whether or not you can add Italian wine to the diet safely.

So What is it?

We’re sure that you’ve heard of the Mediterranean diet before, even if you don’t actively follow it.

As the name implies, it’s a diet made up of foods that people who live near the Mediterranean Sea eat.

It’s not a diet in the sense that it’s purposefully designed to help you to lose weight. Instead, it’s just the regular daily diet for millions of people simply based on where they were brought up.

So, what do you get to eat if you decide to adopt the diet yourself?

Natural foods are the key with this sort of diet. You’ll eat a lot of fruits, vegetables, and nuts. If you’re a meat eater, you’ll enjoy plenty of fresh cuts. However, you will generally avoid red meats in favour of white meats, such as chicken and turkey. Fish is also a staple, which is great because it’s loaded with the healthy fats that your body thrives on.

Plus, the diet incorporates a lot of olive oil, especially in cooking or when used as a drizzle for salads.

Simply put, you’re eating a lot of fresh foods, which means the diet can also change with the seasons. The fruits and veggies that you eat in the summer may not be the same as the ones you eat at winter.

Of course, this focus on fresh foods also means that you’ve avoiding a lot of the processed garbage that can cause health issues. You’re also not consuming refined sugars, which means you face a lower risk for a number of serious conditions.

In fact, that may be the biggest benefit of the diet. You’re eating fresher and healthier foods all of the time.

But that’s not the only benefit…

The Key Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet

Beyond the freshness of the food itself, you’ll experience a host of benefits if you decide to adopt this diet.

Avoiding refined sugars and processed foods lowers your risk of heart disease and stroke. You may also find that your blood pressure drops, which is a great thing for those with hypertension.

All of the fruits, vegetables, and healthy meats ensure that you’re getting plenty of nutrients into your system. That’s important in the modern world, where diet quality plays a big role in nutrient deficiencies. With the Mediterranean diet, you’re getting pretty much your full quota of vitamins and minerals.

You’re healthier. Plus, you’re not spending any money on the supplements that you might have had to use to keep your levels up.

It’s also a great diet in terms of saving on the wear and tear that your body undergoes. Research shows that the diet can reduce muscle weakness by up to 70%. This means that your muscles stay stronger for longer. In real terms, that means that you retain much of your flexibility as you get older. Plus, you face less risk of injury as you age.

The lack of refined sugars pays dividends in other ways too.

Obviously, avoiding processed foods can work wonders for your waist line. While it’s irresponsible to say that the Mediterranean diet will definitely help you to lose weight, as there are all sorts of factors that contribute, the switch from processed foods to healthy foods can only have a positive effect. That’s especially the case if you eat a diet that’s heavy in processed foods right now.

Fewer sugars also means that you face far less risk of suffering from Type-2 Diabetes. And the best part is that your body’s still getting the sugars it needs to give you energy. It’s just getting them from natural and healthy food sources.

So, it’s clear that the Mediterranean diet is a good thing.

Let’s get to the key question…

Is Italian Wine a Part of the Mediterranean Diet

The simple answer is that it’s up to you.

You can enjoy all of the benefits of the Mediterranean diet without every drinking a glass of Italian wine. The real issue is whether adding wine into the mix eliminates the diet’s benefits.

And according to dietician Lauren Manaker, MS, RDN, LD, it doesn’t…as long as you consume in moderation and drink the right type of wine.

Italian red wine is the wine of choice of you’re going to drink along with the Mediterranean diet. We’ve spoken about the many benefits of this type of wine before. It’s loaded with antioxidants that reinforce the heart health benefits of the diet. Plus, you’re getting more natural sugars from the grapes used to create the wine.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you should drink a bottle of red wine every day. In fact, doing so will prove hazardous to your health over time.

But a glass of wine with lunch isn’t going to cause any problems. In fact, it’s recommended as part of the diet, as long as you don’t give into temptation and decide to add a second or third glass into the mix.

The key here is that Italian wine, despite going through a heavy production period, is still a fresh product. And you’re making it even more natural if you go for an organic or biodynamic wine.

All that’s left now is to find the perfect Italian wine for you in the Xtrawine store.