Those who have eaten hummus know it is a wonderfully delicious dip. It’s also a fantastic healthy food that is made with fresh ingredients, including chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans), sesame seeds, tahini, fresh lemon juice, and extra virgin olive oil. So, what are some of the benefits of this type of healthy eating?

It Regulates Digestion

You can get 50% of your daily fiber from one cup of chickpeas. Getting a sufficient amount of fiber means that you can regulate your digestive tract, so this is a great food for anyone who suffers from digestive issues. Additionally, fresh lemon juice seems to be helpful in aiding healthier digestion since it is so rich in Vitamin C.

It’s a Good Source of Antioxidants

This dip contains a significant amount of antioxidants. Extra virgin olive oil is rich in antioxidants, which makes it a healthy food for those dealing with bodily inflammation. Eating plenty of antioxidant-rich food might even lead to the preventing of inflammatory diseases like heart disease.

Garlic is also rich in antioxidants. In fact, studies show that garlic works to reduce high cholesterol, prevent heart disease, and reduces the risk of getting dementia later in life. Garlic also works to protect against cell damage from free radicals that get ingested when we inhale oxygen into our bodies.

It Helps to Strengthen Bones

Made from ground sesame seeds, tahini is high in calcium. One tablespoon of tahini constitutes 6% (or 64 mg) of your daily calcium intake. A hummus recipe generally requires somewhere around 1/4 of a cup of tahini. Tahini is also rich in phytoestrogens, which have been shown to strengthen bones and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

Fresh lemon juice is another ingredient that helps with bone strength. It is rich in Vitamin C, which helps the body absorb calcium. Similarly to tahini, lemon juice has been shown to be effective in helping to prevent osteoporosis.

It’s Allergy-friendly!

If you have rampant food allergies or sensitivities, chances are that you will be able to consume this amazing dip without a problem. If you cannot eat gluten, wheat, dairy, soy, nuts and peanuts, or fish and shellfish, don’t worry! You will not find any of those pesky allergens in this food. Although some packaged dip might contain allergens and cross-contaminates, this dip can be made at home with totally allergen-free ingredients, and you will not have to worry about any possible cross-contamination when you prepare it at home.

Additionally, a lot of the foods that can be dipped are also allergy-friendly, such as carrots, cucumbers, black bean chips, and sugar snap peas all taste great when dipped. Also, salsa (which, too, is naturally gluten- and dairy-free) mixes well as a dip.

If you enjoy healthy eating, try making your hummus at home with these fresh ingredients. It’s easy to do, and there are many recipes available online that you can follow. You might find yourself somewhat addicted to this wildly popular and super-healthy scrumptious dip!

A true Mediterranean diet that is full of fruits and vegetables, garlic, seafood, olive oil, lemon juices, and hearty grains can help fight against diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and cognitive decline. This type of diet can help you live a longer and healthier life, while also having the benefit of being delicious. Here are some specific health benefits of eating a Mediterranean diet.

When paired with regular exercise, a traditional Mediterranean diet can:

Protect against type 2 diabetes. Mediterranean food is rich in fiber, which helps to slow down digestion and prevent swings in blood sugar.

Prevent heart disease and strokes. One of the health benefits of garlic is that it helps to reduce cholesterol, which may lead to a lower risk of heart disease.

Reduce risk of Alzheimer’s. Research has shown that olive oil has beneficial effects on brain function, including the prevention of buildup of plaque in the brain cells that leads to Alzheimer’s disease.

Help with weight loss. A lot of the ingredients used in Mediterranean food, especially the lemon juices, help with weight loss. Lemon has been shown to reduce body weight.

Reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease. Mediterranean food has high levels of antioxidants, which helps to prevent cells from undergoing oxidative stress, which helps to cut the risk of Parkinson’s disease by about 50%.

Increase longevity. With the reduction in all of these health ailments, following a Mediterranean diet can reduce your risk of death by 20% at any age.

How to Switch to a Mediterranean Diet

If you feel overwhelmed about the thought of changing how you eat, here are some helpful tips and dish ideas to get you started.

Eat plenty of vegetables. You can do this at home with an easy plate of sliced vegetables with some feta cheese, or you can try some traditional dishes such as Baba Ghanouj or Falafels.

Eat seafood every week. Fish such as halibut is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, which has benefits for both brain and heart health. Try the Halibut Arabiata for a flavorful dish with great health benefits.

Eat a vegetarian meal once a week. Pick one or two nights each week and leave out the meat for your dinner. Dishes such as the Vegetarian Meza Platter or Tabouleh are popular choices for vegetarian meals.

Choose your drinks wisely. Rather than reaching for liquor drinks or multiple glasses of wine each night, opt for some healthy teas to go with your dinner. Some popular herbal teas are Jasmine Green, Ceylon, Apricot, and Passion Fruit.

Eating a Mediterranean diet is not only healthy, it is also filling and flavorful. Try some new dishes or pick an old favorite and enjoy a great tasting and healthy meal.

Since the 1990s, people who study nutrition have touted a Mediterranean diet as a model for healthy eating, and Middle Eastern food is a great example of this type of diet. Its use of olive oil, fresh vegetables, legumes and grilled meats are all keys to a healthy diet. Studies show that eating in this way leads to a reduction in heart disease and an increase in overall health. Even diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s occur less frequently in people who eat a Mediterranean diet. At Aladdin’s, you can take advantage of this kind of delicious and healthy food.

Another advantage of eating at a place like Aladdin’s is that Middle Eastern food naturally accommodates a wide range of eating styles. If you have ever tried to choose a restaurant that will suit meat eaters, vegetarians and vegans, you know what a headache it can be, but Aladdin’s caters to all of these. Good vegan food can be particularly difficult to get at a restaurant, and too often, vegans are left eating something unappetizing like a plain salad with no dressing. At Aladdin’s, vegans can choose from a variety of flavorful dishes such as tabouleh, falafel or fattoush. There is an even wider selection of vegetarian food including a Greek salad.

Vegetarians and meat eaters alike who are unfamiliar with Middle Eastern food and want to ease in to this new cuisine can try one of the delicious wood-fired pizzas. These aren’t your traditional pizza toppings. Among the offerings are a chicken shawerma pizza, one made with grilled lamb and two vegetarian-friendly options including one with grilled vegetable and another with feta cheese seasoned with herbs.

Because of the variety of meat, vegetarian and vegan options as well as its healthy qualities, Middle Eastern food from Aladdin’s is also a great choice for corporate catering or any other kind of catering. Whether it’s a mandatory event like a staff retreat or a celebration like a birthday or wedding, people appreciate the opportunity to eat food that is both healthy and delicious.

Some of the oldest civilizations originated in the Middle East, and this means that its cuisine has a rich, vibrant and ancient history. People have literally been eating versions of these dishes for thousands of years, and the ingredients that make their way into Middle Eastern cooking are the result of the climate, geography and culture. Typical ingredients such as pistachios and dates were among the first harvested after grains when people turned from hunter-gatherer to agricultural societies while other flavors and spices were introduced over the centuries from other cultures. From ancient times to today’s dishes at Aladdin, Middle Eastern food has remained healthy and delicious.