Mediterranean Diet

A treasure on our plate
Scientific research leaves no longer any doubt: the Mediterranean diet is a valuable ally for our health. The olive oil, fruits, vegetables, fish. Daily consumption of dairy (milk and cheese). Drinking wine on a daily basis but with moderation (1-2 cups).

What is the Mediterranean Diet?
The term « Mediterranean Diet « , the way it is used today, essentially introduced by food scientists to describe the Cretan diet (mostly), but other countries in the Mediterranean, which had features in common with it. Because the oil was the main source of fat.

In the early 60s began the so-called « study of seven countries » by the American Mr Ancel keys and his colleagues. The study lasted 30 years and involved a total of about 13,000 men, who were selected from 16 different locations seven countries (Finland, the Netherlands, Japan, United States, Italy, Former Yugoslavia and Greece). The aim of this study was to investigate the hitherto unclear relationship between diet and cardiovascular disease.

The results of this study showed that the Cretans had the lowest mortality rate from coronary heart disease and cancer. Additionally, the Cretans had the highest average life expectancy than those who participated in the survey.

The benefits of implementing the standard Mediterranean Diet are multiple and have been confirmed by many other studies conducted after the study of seven countries.

More specifically:
• Slow down aging and promote longevity (through a reduction in mortality from all causes in general, but particularly from coronary heart disease and some cancers)

• Reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease

• Reducing the levels of triglycerides, total and LDL (« bad ») cholesterol and maintain levels of HDL (« good ») cholesterol in the blood

• Reduction in the incidence of Type 2 Diabetes

• Reduction of blood pressure levels

• Reduce the incidence of stroke

• Reduce the incidence of Parkinson disease and Alzheimer, and a reduction in mortality from Alzheimer’s disease.

The model of the Mediterranean Diet is the most ideal for maintaining good health and longevity. In combination even with daily moderate exercise not only does it help us to be healthy, but also to maintain normal body weight.

It is worth noting that the Mediterranean diet has been recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO (Nairobi, November 2010), after a joint nomination of Greece, Spain, Italy and Morocco.