The Traditional Mediterranean Diet: Lessons Learned.

Lam, Christopher

The Mediterranean diet has evolved over several millennia. While the Mediterranean diet varies from one country to another, the commonalities include a plant-based diet with substantial amounts of greens, pulses, fruits, nuts, seeds, whole grains and olive oil. The traditional diet of Crete is considered to exemplify such a diet because of the superlative health status and longevity of its people, as demonstrated in the renowned Seven Countries Study. There is a large and growing body of evidence that such a diet, taken as a whole package, is strongly associated with a multitude of measurable health benefits. With the current rise in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, diabetes, obesity and other degenerative conditions, the implications of the Mediterranean diet for preventive health care are enormous. For people who have adopted a Westernized diet, their health status has deteriorated. Conversely, people who adhere to a traditional Mediterranean diet have superior health outcomes.

MEDITERRANEAN Region; DIET; METABOLIC syndrome; DIABETES; OBESITY; MEDICAL care; METABOLIC disorders

Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, 2011, Vol 26, Issue 3, p109

0834-4825

Academic Journal