This is why Americans have weight problems

From Sicily to Rome to Barcelona, Mediterranean women are known for their vitality and beauty. How do they do it? Is it the blue-green sea, the mild climate, the sun-bronzed men? The real secret lies in their diet: a centuries-old way of eating that combines fresh produce, whole grains and unprocessed foods. Eat like a Mediterranean no matter where you live.
1. Mediterranean Women don't eat Processed Junk“One of the worst mistakes Americans make is eating processed food,” says Adamson, who has authored and coauthored more than 40 health books, including Mediterranean Women Stay Slim, Too (Collins, 2006) and the forthcoming The Mediterranean Diet (Harper, January, 2007).Why are processed foods so bad? By definition, they undergo some sort of physical or chemical change during manufacturing, which alters their chemical makeup and can lead to unhealthy consequences (the addition of trans fats, for example). Unprocessed foods, on the other hand, are as close to their natural state as possible. Packed with healthy vitamins – not man-made synthetics – these are the foods that your body needs to stay healthy. Check the nutrition label on your favorite grocery store products. If you see a list of unpronounceable chemicals, put the food back. Start with small changes, like trading in your boxed crackers for a fresh baguette, or swapping your frozen chicken burrito with slow-roasted chicken. Soon enough, choosing natural will become second nature.