If you love rich red wines, cheese and bread, get ready to feast. The Sardinian diet is the latest in a new diet trend which is said to lead to a longer life.
Sardinia is a very small island, 120 miles west of the Italian peninsula. It is known to be a universe unto itself. The coastline is said to be Europe’s most spectacular for scenary.
Its rugged mountains, pocked with caves, are home to large flocks of sheep that feed on pungent wild herbs and produce a cheese your palate will never forget. Nestled into its silent olive groves are some of the continent's oldest archeological remains, dating back to 1700 BC. Its people speak a language incomprehensible to all other Italians, celebrate more saints' days than anyone else in the nation, and love to dress up in elaborate costumes at the drop of a finely-embroidered hat.
The summer heat there is oppressive while the winter winds are some of the worst in the Mediterranean region. It is even hard to get to, which perhaps accounts for the unusual diet there.
Surprisingly, contrary to most popular diets, the Sardinian diet does not include fish, but it does include bread and cheese.
Dan Buettner, who writes for National Geographic magazine, is an Emmy award-winning documentarian, and author of "The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest," says certain aspects of the Sardinian diet seem to make a difference, adding about six years to the average life expectancy.
On a recent visit to Sardinia, Buettner noticed that the people there drink very dark red wine, so dark that the Italians call it vino nero, which means 'black wine'.
Sardinian wines are available at restaurants in the Unites States too. Mediterranean restaurants in San Francisco, Dallas, Miami, all carry Sardinian wines, and if these unusual wines are not in your city yet, they are likely to appear there soon.
Buettner said that combining the Mediterranean diet with the dark wine creates anti-oxidants that “scrub” the arteries. Your diet should also include lots of nuts, fruits and vegetables.
On Sardinia, the consumption of red meats is celebration of special occasions and is usually limited to only once a week. The protein in the diet comes from the cheese eaten on Sardinia.
The cheese is called pecorino sardo. It is made from the milk of grass-fed sheep, which results in a product that is high in Omega-3 fatty acids. (Omega-3 fatty acids are also found in fish, especially salmon, which is why fish is so common in most diets.
Sardinia is also known for having another kind of cheese -- one that actually is infested with live maggots. Buettner added that this cheese is eaten by the men on the island as a “manifestation of toughness.” It could contain bacteria that are good for the gut, though Buettner admits it is unknown why this cheese could be responsible for longevity.
Because the Sardinian diet includes many features of the popular Mediterranean diet, for losing weight, it might help you lose weight too. But it is primarily known as a secret to longevity. The long sought fountain of youth??
Resources:
On the Table: Sardinina
Sardinian diet - pecorino sardo and vino nero
Written by Shelby Bateson
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