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The Mediterranean Diet: From an Environment-Driven Food Culture to an Emerging Medical Prescription

Author

Listed:
  • Cristina-Mihaela Lăcătușu

    (Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iași, Romania
    “Sf. Spiridon” Emergency Hospital, 700111 Iași, Romania)

  • Elena-Daniela Grigorescu

    (Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iași, Romania)

  • Mariana Floria

    (“Sf. Spiridon” Emergency Hospital, 700111 Iași, Romania
    Internal Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iași, Romania)

  • Alina Onofriescu

    (Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iași, Romania
    “Sf. Spiridon” Emergency Hospital, 700111 Iași, Romania)

  • Bogdan-Mircea Mihai

    (Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iași, Romania
    “Sf. Spiridon” Emergency Hospital, 700111 Iași, Romania)

Abstract

The Mediterranean diet originates in the food cultures of ancient civilizations which developed around the Mediterranean Basin and is based on the regular consumption of olive oil (as the main source of added fat), plant foods (cereals, fruits, vegetables, legumes, tree nuts, and seeds), the moderate consumption of fish, seafood, and dairy, and low-to-moderate alcohol (mostly red wine) intake, balanced by a comparatively limited use of red meat and other meat products. A few decades ago, the Mediterranean diet drew the attention of medical professionals by proving extended health benefits. The first reports ascertained cardiovascular protection, as multiple large-scale clinical studies, starting with Ancel Keys’ Seven Countries Study, showed a marked reduction of atherosclerotic clinical events in populations with a Mediterranean dietary pattern. Ensuing trials confirmed favorable influences on the risk for metabolic syndrome, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. While its health benefits are universally recognized today by medical professionals, the present state of the Mediterranean diet is challenged by major difficulties in implementing this protective dietary pattern in other geographical and cultural areas and keeping it alive in traditional Mediterranean territories, also tainted by the unhealthy eating habits brought by worldwide acculturation.

Suggested Citation

  • Cristina-Mihaela Lăcătușu & Elena-Daniela Grigorescu & Mariana Floria & Alina Onofriescu & Bogdan-Mircea Mihai, 2019. "The Mediterranean Diet: From an Environment-Driven Food Culture to an Emerging Medical Prescription," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-16, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:6:p:942-:d:214346
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ludovico Abenavoli & Luigi Boccuto & Alessandro Federico & Marcello Dallio & Carmelina Loguercio & Laura Di Renzo & Antonino De Lorenzo, 2019. "Diet and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: The Mediterranean Way," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-9, August.
    2. Guadalupe Echeverría & Ornella Tiboni & Loni Berkowitz & Victoria Pinto & Bárbara Samith & Andrea von Schultzendorff & Nuria Pedrals & Marcela Bitran & Chiara Ruini & Carol D. Ryff & Daniele Del Rio &, 2020. "Mediterranean Lifestyle to Promote Physical, Mental, and Environmental Health: The Case of Chile," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-17, November.
    3. Sarah Cuschieri & Massimo Libra, 2020. "Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in Maltese Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Nikolina Kolobarić & Maja Gradinjan Centner & Petar Šušnjara & Anita Matić & Ines Drenjančević, 2020. "Anthropometric and Biochemical Parameters in Relation to Dietary Habits as Early Indicator of Cardiovascular Impairment in Young Adult Cohort," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-14, December.
    5. Sándor Sipka & János Nagy & Péter Sipka & Judit Kocsis & Judit Tóth & Péter Árkosy & Zsolt Horváth, 2020. "Analysis of Low Cancer Mortality Rates in the Wine Regions of Tokaj and Balaton in Hungary," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-8, September.

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