The increased awareness about healthy lifestyles has prompted people to adopt new eating habits and diets. From Mediterranean and veganism to paleo and ketogenic, several types of diets have emerged lately with each one of them having different benefits. Some diets are said to be effective in losing weight while others are beneficial for improving physical performance. Recently, one such diet called the “Harvard Diet” has come to light which is being linked to a longer life. No, it would not make you immortal but may keep you away from factors that work against your health.
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According to Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the Harvard Diet or Harvard's Healthy Eating Plate is basically an eating plan that was designed by experts from the school in 2011. The Nutrition Source website said that the Healthy Eating Plate must be used as “a guide for creating healthy, balanced meals—whether served at the table or packed in a lunch box”. The Harvard Diet suggested including more and more of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, protein-rich food such as fish and poultry, and healthy plant oils.
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Lilian Cheung, a lecturer of nutrition at Harvard's school of public health, added that such eating habits can prevent certain types of diseases including cardiovascular diseases and cancer. “In terms of major chronic diseases like prevention of cardiovascular disease, different types of cancers [and] Type 2 diabetes, this way of eating is going to be helpful to prevent those diseases that are common in America, and the world,” the lecturer was quoted as saying by CNBC.
The guide focuses on diet quality and insists that the type of carbohydrate is more important than the amount of carbohydrate. While the Healthy Eating Plate advises eating more vegetables, it doesn't say the same for potatoes. The diet also emphasises the need to avoid sugary beverages and encourages consuming healthy oils.