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EXAME DE PROFICIÊNCIA EM LEITURA EM LÍNGUA INGLESA
Grande Área: Ciências da Saúde e Ciências Biológicas
Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet
By Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
When we think of the Mediterranean diet, we picture Europeans leisurely dining on meals of fish,
vegetables, fruits, olives, and crusty whole-grain bread dunked in olive oil, along with a glass of wine.
For thousands of years, residents of the Mediterranean coastal region have enjoyed this kind of delicious
diet -- high in plant foods and monounsaturated fats (like olive oil) -- while getting plenty of regular
physical activity. They do not think of their eating habits as a diet plan; it is simply their way of life. And it
is a way of life that apparently leads to long, healthy lives virtually free of chronic disease.
For the past 50 years, scientists have studied the eating patterns characteristic of the Mediterranean diet
-- and they continue to find additional health benefits. Recently, a large study published in Journal BMJ
showed that healthy people who followed a Mediterranean diet had a lower risk of developing type 2
diabetes.
Further, a recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine showed that a restrictedcalorie Mediterranean diet (as well as a low-carb diet) could be even more effective for weight loss than
a low-fat diet, while also offering other health benefits.
"Research continues to demonstrate that being physically active and eating a nutritious diet of primarily
whole foods that are filling and satisfying can enable people to control weight, lower blood pressure [and]
cholesterol levels, reduce risk of diabetes, heart disease [and] Alzheimer’s disease, and basically protect
against chronic diseases," says cardiologist Arthur Agatston, MD, creator of the South Beach Diet, based
on the Mediterranean diet model.
What Makes the Mediterranean Diet So Healthy?
A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, beans, and seeds provides thousands of
micronutrients, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that can help protect against cancer, heart disease,
and Alzheimer’s disease, among other conditions, experts say.
The multiple factors at work in the Mediterranean diet, Agatston explains, provide health benefits that
"cannot be replaced by a supplement."
Monounsaturated fats, found in avocado, fish, canola and olive oils, are anti-inflammatory and fight
disease at the cellular level. And olive oil, with its rich monounsaturated fat content, has gotten lots of
attention. But according to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine in 2003, it may not
be the olive oil itself, but the interaction or synergy between all the foods that leads to the health benefits.
Studies show the Mediterranean diet's protective effect against obesity and type 2 diabetes is likely due
to its high proportion of plant foods, fish, and olive oil, along with moderate consumption of alcohol.
"A Mediterranean diet is high in fiber, which slows down digestion, preventing wild swings in blood sugar;
reduces insulin resistance (a precursor of type 2 diabetes); and improves insulin sensitivity to reduce
obesity and type 2 diabetes," says Agatston.
SERVIÇO PÚBLICO FEDERAL
UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO PARÁ
INSTITUTO DE LETRAS E COMUNICAÇÃO - ILC
FACULDADE DE LETRAS ESTRANGEIRAS MODERNAS - FALEM
PROFICIÊNCIA EM LEITURA EM LÍNGUAS ESTRANGEIRAS - PROFILE
Fone: (091) 3201-8779
E-mail: [email protected]
Site: http:// www.ufpa.br/profile
Many studies have confirmed that a diet that is high in fat but low in saturated fat ultimately reduces the
risks of heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
And it is important to note that the Mediterranean lifestyle is not just about food and wine; it also includes
regular physical activity. Not only is the typical American diet much higher in calories and saturated fat,
we are more sedentary. As a result, our rates of heart disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes are among
the highest in the world.
The good news is that studies have shown that it is never too late to adopt the Mediterranean lifestyle to
increase longevity and reduce the risk of chronic disease. Research published in The Journal of the
American Medical Association found that seniors who led a healthy lifestyle -- defined as not smoking,
eating a Mediterranean-type diet, drinking alcohol in moderation, and engaging in 30 minutes of daily
physical activity -- significantly increased their life expectancy.
Adaptado de http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/benefits-mediterranean-diet
Leia o texto “Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet” e responda as seguintes questões em português de
acordo com o mesmo:
1. O que geralmente se associa à dieta do Mediterrâneo? (1 ponto)
2. No que consiste a dieta do Mediterrâneo e o que vem a ser esta dieta para os seus habitantes?
(2 pontos)
3. Cite os resultados de pelo menos dois dos estudos publicados em revistas acadêmicas sobre a
dieta do Mediterrâneo. (2 pontos)
4. Qual a opinião do cardiologista Arther Agatston, M.D. acerca da dieta do Mediterrâneo?(2
pontos)
5. Como é que a dieta do Mediterrânea consegue diminuir índices de insulina no sangue? (1 ponto)
6. Qual é a comparação feita no texto entre a dieta e o estilo de vida dos americanos e a dieta e o
estilo de vida do povo do Mediterrâneo? (2 pontos)