Further proof the Mediterranean diet works

Here's the latest. No Images? Click here     STUDY UP Mediterranean kids aren't on the Mediterranean diet anymore, and it's costing them We know the Mediterranean diet is supposed to be good for ya, but guys: This is a sad way to prove it. Compared to their parents and grandparents, fewer kids in Italy, Spain, and other Mediterranean countries are actually following a Mediterranean-like diet (lots of fish, veggies, healthy fats, and whole grains instead of sugar, processed foods, and red meat). And now youth obesity rates in those countries are hovering around 40 percent. That's a higher rate than most other European countries and the United States. Yikes. Howwwww Forgive us for getting textbook-y for a sec, but this is interesting: It's probably related to the economy. The Mediterranean diet was most popular when many families couldn't afford sugary or processed food, red meat, or dairy. In the past 60ish years, though, incomes have gone up in those regions, creating a higher demand for less healthy (but more convenient) foods. Kids are eating fewer vegetables and more pizza, potatoes, and burgers. (Very American of them.) Cool, but what does this mean for me? In short, it means you (and your family) should probably give the Mediterranean diet another chance. It's not a restrictive eating plan so it's easy to stick to long-term, and it can include tasty and satisfying foods like whole-wheat pasta, red wine, and fresh-caught fish. All this in exchange for a smaller risk of heart disease, diabetes, depression, and obesity—plus a longer life? Sounds like a steal to us.           Try this Here's a stupid-easy way to stop bananas from ripening too quickly: Wrap the stem in plastic wrap. Yep, that's really it. Greatist             TRENDING Is it gross to drink the milk of your enemies or satisfying? Asking because cockroach milk is back in the news again, and people are calling it the next great superfood. On one hand, they're right—cockroach milk is packed with more protein than dairy and non-dairy milks, and it has enough fats, sugars, and amino acids to classify it as a nutritional powerhouse.  On the other hand, it's never going to be a thing Cockroach milk isn't just crushed-up roaches. It has to be slowly extracted from dead, pregnant females of one specific species that's only found in parts of Hawaii, Asia, and Australia. All told, it'd take more than 2,000 cockroaches (and tons and tons of time) to fill a single glass with cockroach milk. Needless to say, it's not sustainable on a larger scale.       IT'S DEBATABLE Are insects *really* going to be a part of our diet in the future? Really? The yays 👍 Insects are shockingly nutritious—crickets, for example, have twice as much protein, five times as much magnesium, three times as much iron, and eight times as much vitamin B12 as beef. Men's Health Overpopulation is a thing that is happening, and we already use 70 percent of agricultural land for livestock and overfish oceans. Put simply, we need new sources of food so the next generations don't starve. Insects are (arguably) the best candidates. The National Bugs don't need nearly as much space or food as livestock (like, four to eight times less food than cattle), making them way more environmentally friendly. IFLScience Two billion people in more than 150 countries are already doing it. FAO The nays 👎 We'll say it: The whole concept is kinda gross. The taste and texture of whole bugs is a downside for some people (though if the bugs are ground into flour, it wouldn't be as much of an issue). Scientific American Eating insects is not necessarily more humane than eating animals, posing an issue for vegans and vegetarians. Essays on Reducing Suffering Insect farming is more environmentally stable in theory, but in practice? Who knows. Feed for the insects adds to the environmental footprint, as does the energy required to process and preserve them for consumers. Forbes       SPONSORED Calling the tired and constipated Sorry to get graphic so quickly, but this one's for you. Millions of Americans deal with fatigue, bloating, and constipation daily, so you're not alone. The solution to your problem could be the way you go to the bathroom, which means ActivatedYou might help you feel energized, less bloated, and more... regular.  And hey, actress Maggie Q swears by it Even though she ate healthy and exercised regularly, she was still feeling sluggish and bloated pretty consistently. Want to watch her talk about how she found a solution? Here's your chance. WATCH NOW           A podcast to make you smarter The Mission Daily podcast contains the news that matters and smart insights to make you healthier, wealthier, and wiser. We love it, and we're preeetty positive you will, too. Sign up         EDITOR'S PICK This will make you a smooth(ie) operator... The whole idea of stocking up on frozen, premade smoothies originally had me rolling my eyes. Come on, what's so hard about throwing ingredients into a blender? And then I tried Sub-Zero Superfood Smoothies by Project Juice. That was the day my confidence in my own smoothie-making skills went down the drain (along with the blend I had just made from scratch that tasted like pond water) because no one—and I mean no one—can make smoothies *this* good on their own.  Here's what you get Eight, 12, or 24 containers packed with ingredients for smoothies or açai bowl blends. You add water or milk, blend, and pour back in the cup it came in so you can take that baby on the go. Whether my three-minute (seriously, it's so fast) breakfast of choice is a mint cacao banana chlorella smoothie or a mango cashew turmeric one, I walk out the door feeling like a master smooth-ista (barista of smoothies, it's a thing). Thanks, Sub-Zero Superfoods. I owe ya.  -- Jamie Webber, senior food and nutrition editor    TRY IT         HERE'S THE REST Barbecues are kinda sorta spewing carcinogens into the air. Should we freak out? 🍔 The Daily Meal The brains of trans people look like their desired gender from a really young age. 🔬 Science Daily A science-backed way to hate HIIT workouts less? Just get out there and do them. 🥊 New York Times This smart sleep mask does way more than just block out light. 💤 Mashable Here are the tricks people use to get a good night's sleep after an evening workout. 🏋️ Reddit A chemical in hand sanitizers and some cookware was linked to gut problems in mice. 🐭 Buzzfeed Be careful with high-protein diets—some might cause heart failure in middle-aged men. ❤️​ Insider       Well Now is Greatist's new roundup of all the health stories you were too busy to read this week. We won't be sending it to you forever, so sign up to make sure you keep getting it.   © Greatist 2018 Greatist, Inc. 30 Vandam St., Floor 3, New York, NY 10013   Forward  Unsubscribe