At Organic Soup Kitchen, we aim to provide quality nutrition through our Mediterranean SoupMeals – plant-based meals that are crafted to deliver the benefits of a Mediterranean Diet.
The Mediterranean Diet is a dietary pattern focused on plant-based foods that are minimally processed. It encourages the consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, and heart-healthy fats. In general, this diet reduces the intake of processed foods, red meat, added sugars, and alcohol.
The Mediterranean Diet has been extensively studied and recognized as one of the healthiest diets worldwide. It promotes an increased consumption of foods that are packed with antioxidants, anti-inflammatory nutrients, and fiber. This is important, given that antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients can help to prevent DNA damage, while fiber can protect against insulin resistance and excessive cholesterol absorption.
Adhering to a Mediterranean Diet has been shown to prevent obesity, as well as related chronic diseases. These diseases include type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, neurodegenerative diseases, and certain cancers. Specifically, the regular intake of fruits and vegetables, including their associated nutrients (e.g. vitamin B-12, selenium, folic acid), in the Mediterranean Diet has been shown to reduce one’s risk for breast, colorectal, or prostate cancer.
According to one study, “High adherence to a traditional Mediterranean diet was independently associated with a substantial reduction in all-cause mortality rates among cancer survivors, specifically in cardiovascular mortality. The latter observation is relevant because patients with cancer are considered a high cardiovascular disease risk population because of shared modifiable risk factors and, potentially, molecular mechanisms of disease, as postulated by the “common soil” hypothesis.
The Mediterranean Diet is abundant in foods that are natural sources of polyphenols, which are bioactive compounds with well-established anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti tumor activities that may be relevant not only to cancer onset and progression but also and possibly even more to cardiovascular mortality prevention.”
Remember that the food an individual consumes is only one part of the Mediterranean Diet – lifestyle habits are also an essential component of this diet. To maximize the benefits of a Mediterranean Diet, one should additionally prioritize regular physical activity, adequate rest, and social interaction.