Mediterranean Diet - Health and Culture.

Arvanitakis, C.; Tozun, N.

Nutrition plays an important role in health and disease. The Mediterranean diet has evolved over centuries in the countries bordering the Mediterranean basin, determined by climate, terroir, sea, agriculture and tradition. It is a dietary pattern characterized by a high intake of fresh fruit and vegetables, olive oil, bread, pasta, pulses, nuts, cereals, fish, dairy products, a low intake of animal protein, namely red meat, sugar and salt. The Mediterranean diet has been shown in several prospective studies to have a beneficial effect on health, namely on cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, e.g., gastric and colorectal cancer, as well as on diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity and probably Alzheimer and Parkinson disease. It is associated with decreased morbidity and mortality, and increased longevity. The Mediterranean diet was included by UNESCO in 2010 in the list of the Intangible World Cultural Heritage, as it is linked to tradition, history and culture, transmitted from generation to generation. The Mediterranean diet is more than food, it is an expression of social interaction, community life and local customs. The role of women in the traditional Mediterranean diet is an important factor in preserving the richness of its legacy. It is considered a model of healthy nutrition which contributes to wellness and good living, a great contribution to mankind.

MEDITERRANEAN diet; CARDIOVASCULAR diseases; DISEASE research; NUTRITION research

International Journal of Anthropology, 2013, Vol 28, Issue 4, p207

0393-9383

Academic Journal