Eat Like an Italian – Details, episodes & analysis

Yes, you can make mistakes on the Mediterranean Diet. And it’s more common than you’d think.

The Mediterranean Diet, renowned for its health benefits and delicious flavors, has gained significant attention in recent years with the popularity of The Blue Zones, The Longevity Diet, and the like. With its emphasis on fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats, this dietary pattern is known to promote heart health, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and contribute to overall well-being.

However, despite its simplicity and flexibility, many individuals stumble upon common pitfalls when attempting to adopt the Mediterranean Diet — or perhaps more accurately, the Mediterranean lifestyle. 

In this article, we will explore the most prevalent mistakes people make when starting their Mediterranean Diet journey, and provide practical tips and strategies to overcome them.

Read the full article here:

https://eatlikeanitalian.com/mistakes-on-the-mediterranean-diet/

It’s well-known that the populations who follow a Mediterranean Diet are among the healthiest and longest-living on the planet. But while the focus is obviously on the variety of delicious foods, what is often missed is the role of fasting.

Either for religious reasons or for the simple lack of abundance, inhabitants of Italy, Greece, Spain and other Mediterranean countries have experienced extended periods of calorically restricted diets. And they were healthier because of it.

These circumstances not only extended their lifespan, but also their “healthspan,” allowing them to be active and able to enjoy life well into their 90s and past 100 years-old.

In recent decades, scientists have strove to understand the mechanisms of this phenomenon. To help us gain a layperson's understanding of how all this works, I have spoken with Renee, who is a medical science liaison at L-Nutra, the parent company of ProLon, developers of the Fasting Mimicking Diet. We take a deep dive into the metabolic pathways that, some say, leads to the elusive Fountain of Youth.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/AxjjlzbsCuA

Read on the Blog: https://eatlikeanitalian.com/how-fasting-slows-aging/

It’s easy to take for granted during our busy routines, but food plays such an important part of our lives. It nourishes us, it comforts us, it connects us to our culture… and it can help heal us, too. 

Cancer is a serious illness that affects millions of people around the world. While there is no guaranteed way to prevent cancer, there are some foods that have been shown to help fight it off. (Of course, there’s more to it than that, and you should always consult with a physician.)

My guest on this podcast episode is Judy Witts Fancini. Besides all the aforementioned roles of food in our lives, for Judy, it’s also her livelihood. She’s been involved with the procurement, preparation, and most importantly, the enjoyment of food at every level. Better still, not “just” food, but the traditional regional dishes of Italy.

Even though it's technically on the Adriatic Sea, can we still consider Venetian cuisine as part of the "Mediterranean Diet?" Well, there's lots of seafood and vegetables. Perhaps more polenta and rice than pasta, but otherwise, yes the traditional dishes in Venice are healthy and diverse. If you want to know where the locals eat in Venice on a regular basis, it’s in little stand-up bar places called barcari. The most authentic food in Venice is often “hidden” inside these little gems. But you’ll need a bit of local knowledge to find the best of the best.

The Italian Food Rules might seem trite to a foreigner visiting Italy. But these guidelines are very important if you don't want to "fare una brutta figura," make a bad impression. And they are good for your health, too! 

Read the full list here: https://eatlikeanitalian.com/34-italian-food-rules/

Listen, I get it. It takes effort to stay on the path of righteousness, especially when every marketing message is screaming about the bounty of Olive Garden’s endless pasta bowl (with unlimited garlic-butter breadsticks). Yes, there is such a thing as too much pasta. 

But let’s at least not fool ourselves. Concoctions dubbed as “Italian food” outside of Italy are usually a gross bastardization of their lineage; just barely even resembling the humble beginnings from which they arose. 

So indulge me, if you will, with this rant in the defense of all things holy and Italian. The crimes against Italian food will not go unpunished!

Read the transcript here: https://eatlikeanitalian.com/crimes-against-italian-food/

Last time I talked about time-restricted eating and how fasting is NOT synonymous with starvation. Well, that was before the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns of our normal societal routines. 

During this strange times, grocery shopping has become a challenge, and for some who are out of work, it's also an economic challenge. So some degree of starvation is not out of the question, even within the wealthiest nation in the world. 

On the plus side, it gave me the nudge I needed to give Dr. Valter Longo's Fasting Mimicking Diet a try. 

And still, all of that says nothing of "emotional starvation" in this time of social distancing. Perhaps that's a topic for another conversation. 

Stay safe, my friends.

https://eatlikeanitalian.com/

Starting a new diet or lifestyle regime can be daunting. The trick is to break it down into "bite-size" steps so that you don't get overwhelmed and frustrated, causing you to give up too soon.

In this episode I outline six simple steps to achieve the Mediterranean Lifestyle Diet. Each one is fairly easy, and in the end, you've made some big changes towards improving your health. 

​American physiologist Ancel Keys championed a diet that mimics the traditional diet and lifestyle of Mediterranean countries. Let's explore how we can implement the same practices in 21st century America. To read more go to our website, eatlikeanitalian.com