Sophia Loren follows NHS-approved diet linked to ‘long and healthy life’

Sophia Loren discusses her preference in men in 1979

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Sophia Loren is set to turn 88 on September 20, yet the actress has said she still “feels 20”. Speaking as the cover girl for AARP the Magazine’s December 2020/January 2021, she said: “Sometimes when I say I’m 86, I don’t believe it. I feel 20.

“When I look in the mirror, I cheer for myself.

“I don’t ask, ‘Are you great?’ or ‘Are you beautiful?’

“No! It’s how I feel inside, how secure I am, how happy I am. That’s what matters.”

The Oscar-winning star has pointed to her diet for a lot of her health and positive body image.

Speaking to Elle Australia, she revealed that she follows a classic Mediterranean diet, with a few treats thrown in.

As part of the article, she said: “Everything you see, I owe to spaghetti.”

The Mediterranean diet focuses on plant foods like fruit, vegetables,

whole grains, nuts, seeds, and pulses, like, beans, chickpeas and lentils.

It also contains moderate amounts of lean proteins like fish and chicken and low-fat dairy foods.

Experts from Eat This Not That said: “The Mediterranean Diet has been linked to producing some substantial health benefits that could lead to a long and healthy life.”

The diet is also approved by the NHS, which highlights some of the benefits of the diet including weight loss and improved blood pressure.

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What are the benefits of a Mediterranean diet?

The NHS University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire’s Department of Nutrition and Dietetics explained some of the positive benefits that eating a Mediterranean diet could have.

These include:

• Weight loss – plants are naturally lower in calories and high in
• fibre, which helps you feel fuller for longer.
• Reduced risk of having a heart attack or stroke – replacing
• saturated fat, found mostly in meat and dairy, with healthier fats in
• nuts and olive oil can lower your cholesterol levels. This is good for
• your heart and blood vessels.
• Diabetes – eating a diet rich in plants can help prevent type 2
• diabetes. For people with diabetes (type 1, type 2 and
• gestational), it can help lower blood glucose levels and may allow
• them to reduce their medication.
• Reduced blood pressure.
• Lower risk of developing certain cancers including bowel, breast, prostate,
• stomach, bladder, head and neck, lung and pancreatic cancer.
• Lower risk of developing dementia.
• Better balance of good gut bacteria, which
• can lead to better digestion.
• Improved mood and mental health.
• Better sleep.

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