Healthy Dining to be Had at DolceVita Ristorante Italiano
Posted Wednesday, August 23, 2006
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Like many, you may be watching your diet for a number of reasons: to lose weight, lower cholesterol or just generally improve your nutrition and health. Perhaps you’ve resigned yourself to a life of bland, steamed boredom or to never being able to eat out again – especially Italian food. Well, think again. Among the many diet crazes out there, the Mediterranean diet has surfaced as a real option for better health and better food.
While nearly every expert agrees that there is no “magic bullet” diet, Mediterranean cuisine has an established and fact-based reputation for improving health in many ways. Italians are well known as having lower rates of heart disease and cancer. Popular ingredients in Italian cooking are often rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. The common misconception is that Italian food is rich and heavy. While it is certainly true that Italians are credited with such delights that are less than ideal for your thighs, such as tiramisu and gelato, they have many more healthy options.
At DolceVita Ristorante Italiano in John’s Creek, owned by Franco De Amicis and his family, the tradition of true Italian cuisine thrives - using only the freshest ingredients and preparing dishes from scratch. Of course, pasta is on the menu in many varieties. However, the pasta is made from scratch using semolina, not the over processed grains some dried pastas can contain. Healthy grains and cereals are the base of the food pyramid we all know so well from grade school, and the pasta at DolceVita is just one such type. Sauces can be tomato based, which are rich in lycopene and antioxidants. When cooked in a healthy [monounsaturated] oil, lycopene is better absorbed by the body. Extra Virgin Olive Oil is naturally cholesterol free and widely recognized as being good for you in moderation, and this is exactly what is used in cooking at DolceVita.
Garlic is another staple in Italian cooking, and is proven to help lower LDL [“bad”] cholesterol, lower blood pressure, provide antioxidant and immune benefits, and reduce the risk of stroke. These are only a few benefits of one of many common ingredients in Italian cooking. Other varied ingredients, varied being the key word, such as basil, fresh legumes and vegetables, lean meats, fish, and healthy grains all provide significant health benefits. Let’s not forget about the ubiquitous Italian-loved beverage: red wine. Studies have shown that moderate consumption can help lower blood pressure, prevent arteriosclerosis, and act as an anti-carcinogen. Salute!
At DolceVita healthy choices abound. There are delicious fish dishes [rich in omega-3 fatty acids], such as tuna carpaccio, Mediterranean sea bass, grouper, and salmon. If you’re looking for something from land, your choices include filet mignon [the leanest and most tender cut of beef], pork, chicken, lamb and duck. If you have special dietary requirements, DolceVita is more than happy to accommodate. Come enjoy the “sweet life” and don’t worry about blowing that diet!
DolceVita Ristorante Italiano
11705 Medlock Bridge Rd.
Duluth, GA 30076
770-814-7477
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