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How Italians Stay Slim
Eat like they do in Rome, Italy - not Rome, New York
By Holly McCord & Linda Gilbert (Nutrition News)
You’d be amazed to see what the slim, trim Italians are eating, as we were
on a recent visit. It’s so different from what we call Italian-American food
in the US, and too bad for us! The Italians enjoy much better health than we do.
Check the contrasts between the typical diet in Rome, Italy, and the diet of
Italian-Americans in Rome, New York, as described by local dietitians. Then use
the secrets of the real Italian diet to start getting healthier and
slimmer today.
Italian Secret #1: Three
Meals, Period
| Rome, Italy: |
Rome, NY: |
| They
eat at meal times –
ONLY! |
Snacking is a way of life. |
| Snack food consumption is
low in Italy. And when Italians
do snack, it’s fruit and
nuts. Fast food? Not
popular. |
This city is snack-happy like the rest of America, where consumption of corn chips,
pretzels, and crackers has gone up 200% since the 70’s.
Fast food is big too.
|
Italian Secret #2: Dark
Greens Daily
| Rome, Italy: |
Rome, NY: |
Salads
feature dark leafy
greens.
Packed with nutrients,
fresh, dark greens are served
with most meals, often as a
salad course that comes right
before dessert.
|
Salads feature iceberg lettuce. Salads mostly consist of
nutrient-poor iceburg lettuce.
Overall consumption of dark green veggies such as spinach
is low. |
Italian Secret #3: Olive Oil
for Richness
| Rome, Italy: |
Rome, NY: |
| Olive oil
rules. |
Cheese and Meat rule.
|
| Olive oil is served in
salads, pasta, and cooked
veggies in generous amounts. It continues to be the
principle source of fat in the
diet. Result?
Lots of
heart-smart mono-unsaturated
fat.
|
Favorites such as cheese-laden lasagna and veal parmigiana fill plates. Italian bread is served with butter.
Submarine sandwiches bulge with Italian ham and Provolone.
Result?
Lots of artery-gumming saturated fat.
|
Italian Secret #4 Fruit for
Dessert
| Rome, Italy: |
Rome, NY: |
|
Dessert
is fresh fruit in
season.
Italians end most
meals with fresh fruit, served plain or marinated in wine or balsamic vinegar with a
little sugar.
Sweets are saved for special occasions.
|
Dessert is Italian cookies & pastries.
Doughnuts are a daily event for many people too. |
|
Big Payoff for Eating Italian |
Italians enjoy much better health than Americans, thanks partly to the
real
Italian diet: lots of fruits, green veggies, olive oil, and fewer snacks and sweets.
Here’s dramatic proof:
|
|
IN
ITALY
|
IN THE US
|
|
WHO’S OBESE?
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1 in
15
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1 in 5
|
|
WHO HAS HEART DISEASE ?
|
1
in
25
|
1 in 5
|
|
WHO HAS DIABETES?
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1 in
28
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1 in 16
|
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WORLD HEALTH RANKING
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#6
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#24
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