Obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer-all diseases that have been scientifically linked to diet-are at an all-time high. But there's a way that's been successful for millions of people for thousands of the Mediterranean diet.In The Complete Mediterranean Diet, top cardiologist Michael Ozner offers the traditional Mediterranean diet-clinically proven to reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer and numerous other diseases-with the latest scientific findings in health and nutrition to create a diet that's easy to follow.Alongside an abundance of evidence supporting the Mediterranean diet's incredible health benefits, including sustainable weight loss, Dr. Ozner includes 500 delicious, classic Mediterranean recipes, such Mediterranean Chickpea SoupPizza MargheritaGrilled Citrus Salmon with Garlic GreensSpicy Whole Wheat Capellini with GarlicWith a foreword by Debbie Matenopoulos, The Complete Mediterranean Diet shows you how and why to change your diet for a longer, healthier, happier life.
I won the book on Goodreads and I will be as honest as possible. The book has a section at the beginning stating all the benefits of a good diet (just seemed recycled). Then lots of recipes from all areas from around the Mediterranean. The recipes are varied and encompassing of the many regions of the Mediterranean. However, many have been modified to fit the North American eating style. Also, i did not like the fact that all the deserts use an artificial sweetener, that is definitely not good in any diet. Pictures for at least some of the recipes would have helped.
Gave up after starting the American Test Kitchen's The Complete Mediterranean Cookbook. This cookbook starts with a very diet book introduction - other diets don't work! This does! Very disconcerting coming from someone who is apparently a practicing physician!? And then the joyless recipes, written with no introduction, no context, and no personality, and with various abominations on the ingredient front - yes, I have strong feelings about fat-free 'cheese'. Also - transfat-free canola/olive oil spread and low-sodium and fat-free chicken broth. Along with a fair number of ingredients that aren't Mediterranean - salmon, maple syrup, cranberries and quinoa - I'm looking at you. The recipes might actually be great, but I'm not about to find out when cookbooks exist where healthy, authentic and tasty coexist. (Also while maybe authentically Mediterranean, two eggplant soups should have been my stopping point.)
The recipes seem to be less authentic and more Americanized. They focus too much on pasta. While I realize that Italy is a part of the Mediterranean area, there are so many other countries that aren't and that don't rely so heavily on starch.
A true Mediterranean diet places emphasis on whole foods (fruits, veggies, nuts and beans) and less on über-processed. That means there should technically be less emphasis on grains as most of the ones we consume in the West have been heavily processed.
There's also a lack of discussion around the other components of the Mediterranean lifestyle: tons of outdoor time, how one eats food, WHO one eats food with, etc.
This is just another diet book that won't really resolve the underlying issues of weight problems, obesity, etc. that plague America.
Holy mackerel. When he said "complete," he wasn't kidding. There is a wealth of information about what a Mediterranean Diet is and then over 500 recipes to help you out. The recipes do not contain weird ingredients and are fairly easy to make. There are no photos, so you must use your imagination when making these. Many recipes include sugar and grains and must be modified for those on a more restricted diet. I place a higher importance on greens in a Mediterranean diet and would have loved more recipes for these. All in all, if you wish to pursue this healthy way of eating, this is the only resource you would need.
Disappointing because the hype from my cardiologist was so grand. Needs better food/menu illustrations and less artificial sweeteners in the recipes. Great information presented in a less than stellar format.