Doctor’s Orders – Mediterranean Diet

Doctor’s Orders – Mediterranean Diet

The publication “What national and sub-national interventions and policies based on the Mediterranean and Nordic diet to recommend or implement in Europe and what evidence or effectiveness in reducing so-called noncommunicable diseases” has just been released by the World Health Organization. WHO

As can be seen from the long title of the document, similar benefits derive from the observance of the Nordic diet which, like the Mediterranean one, is low in saturated fats and, in substitution of extra virgin olive oil, uses rapeseed oil.

The interest in these food derives from the scientific and statistic evidence that show a clear reduction of some important pathologies in populations where these diets are observed such as for example cardiovascular diseases, oncological diseases, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes. In total they represent the main cause of death (68%).

The unhealthy eating styles are the cause of these diseases and therefore nutrition represents an important element in health prevention, being a modifiable element. Let’s go into detail and see what the Mediterranean diet consists of for the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Mediterranean diet characterizes the countries where olive trees grow and where the diet has significant cultural associations. The Mediterranean diet is based on local, fresh and seasonal products. As illustrated by the known pyramid, the food style is characterized by a high consumption of fruit, vegetables, cereals, dried fruit and olive oil. A moderate use of fish and poultry follows up higher in the pyramid. So a low consumption of dairy products, red meat, preserved meat and sweets. In the diet there is also a moderate consumption of wine during the meal.

What is more, there are also some social and cultural aspects that are associated with the traditional Mediterranean style and which could play a beneficial and preventive effect on diseases: conviviality during meals, nap after meals and long duration of the meal.

For these reasons too, in 2010 UNESCO inscribed the Mediterranean diet present in Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Morocco, Portugal and Spain as Intangible Heritage of Humanity in its safeguard lists.

As reported in the conspicuous scientific bibliography of the document, the Mediterranean diet is inversely related to all causes of death, a low incidence of tumors, cognitive diseases, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.

All that remains is to sit at the table in good company with friends and fresh traditional Mediterranean food, seasoned with an excellent extra virgin olive oil.

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