carbs never seem to end in Italy! All these delicacies play such a huge part in the Italian diet and hedonistic Italian lifestyle in general. Yet Italians somehow stay fit and healthy, boasting the Mediterranean diet as the healthiest in the world.
Although Italy is known for its pizza and pasta, it is the healthiest country in the world because of its food. Meals are both healthy and delicious, and you can still lose weight following an Italian diet.
Italian food is packed with ingredients that offer powerful antioxidants such as vitamins A, C, and E. Like olive oil, Italian meal ingredients such as vegetables, grains and nuts, and fruits provide the benefit of antioxidants – and flavor!
The Mediterranean diet is characterized by the consumption of whole fruits and vegetables, nuts, beans, whole grains, healthy fats, mainly olive oil, and decreased dairy and red meat intake. You're probably used to dipping bread in olive oil at Italian, or even American, restaurants.
Italy has been traditionally linked to the Mediterranean diet since the pioneering work of Keys et al. [12]. The traditional Italian cuisine is typically based on large quantities of vegetables, fruit, cereals, legumes, nuts, and limited amounts of animal products.
Obesity rates are low in Italy, relative to most OECD countries, but are very high among children. About 1 in 10 people is obese in Italy, significantly less than the OECD average of 1 in 6. More than 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women are overweight.
Italians eat the most pasta worldwide – about 60 pounds of pasta per person per year. Most Italians eat pasta every day but they keep their portions in check. A portion in Italy is about a cup and the meal includes a small portion of meat and a large portion of vegetables and salad.
Have you ever wondered why the Italian do not get fat despite an abundance of pizza, pasta, and dairy? Well, it is because of the Mediterranean diet! People in Italy enjoy a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, beans, tomatoes, poultry, whole grains, olive oil, red wine, dairy ― and they consume very little red meat.
A typical Italian diet consists of three meals in a day. The most common foods in the Italian diet include pasta, cheese, vegetables, olive oil, meats, and wine. Italians give a lot of importance to fresh ingredients. They use seasonal ingredients to prepare meals.
Breakfast is not the main meal of the day in Italy – it's more like a quick burst of energy to get you going in the morning not a feast to linger over. Italians have dinner quite late at night – so, the idea is that they don't need to load themselves with heavy food first thing in the morning.
Italians walk, ride their bikes and take the stairs whenever possible, instead of using cars and escalators. Try at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity five times a week, and 45 minutes of intense exercise three times a week.
According to Eva, the answer is that they use a different type of flour – Italian bread and pasta are made of durum wheat flour which doesn't spike your blood sugar levels as much and therefore it doesn't significantly contribute to weight gain as much as regular refined white flour would, for example.
Italians are known to be very devoted to their food and they love seasonal and fresh ingredients. Their foods contain little or no fatty creams and oils and are always in fairly sized portions. These eating habits are basically the proper way a person should eat if such a person chooses to eat healthy.
A typical Italian breakfast is a cappuccino, espresso with croissant, bread with butter, jam, or Nutella. Additionally, if you're making your breakfast in Italy at home, you will most likely find cereals or Mulino Bianco biscuits.
Italy: 3,522 calories per day.
11:00pm – Midnight.
The Italian diet also includes plenty of vegetables, including greens like arugula, kale and spinach. Typical meals consist of small portions with a variety of items. For example, an Italian might have pasta with tomato sauce and a side salad for lunch.
Italians believe in eating a variety of food, real food, with quality ingredients that are fresh and local when possible. This results in a diet that's rich with beneficial vitamins, minerals and antioxidants for luscious hair and flawless skin.
India, Indonesia and South Korea, where people eat the least amount of fat, consume 10 grams, 15.5 grams, and just over 20 grams per capita, respectively.
Italians are known for having high cheekbones and a strong jawline, giving them sharp-looking facial features. What is this? Coupled with their dark hair and eyes, plus their auquiline noses, Italians can give off an imposing aura when they wear a serious expression.
Riposo, similar to the Spanish siesta, is part of the culture. During the hottest hours of the day, lunch break in Italy can last from 2 to 4 hours. It is a time when Italians schedule meetings with friends and family. It is amazing how important is family “la Famiglia” in Italian life.
Italians, French, Greeks, Spanish, Croatians, and Israelis all enjoy high life expectancy, and good health with overall fewer health problems than their American counterparts due to their very simple common sense approach to food and lifestyle.
If you've already tasted Italian bread, then it won't surprise you to know that Italians consume a lot of it. Even if it is not Italy that holds the record in this: in Europe, Romanians eat bread the most. In Italy we eat just over 3.88 ounces (110 grams) of bread per day.
Italians enjoy a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, beans, fish, poultry, olive oil, tomatoes, whole grains, dairy, red wine -- and they eat very little red meat.