Volantino

LET’S EAT WELL 3 THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET It is difficult to provide a single definition of the Mediterranean Diet , because it is a collection of different dietary styles widespread in various countries of the Mediterranean basin. The term Mediterranean Diet was coined by Ancel Keys, an American researcher, who during a trip to Italy in the 1950s, was surprised by the low incidence of some diseases. Anvel Keys later continued his studies in some villages of Southern Italy where he observed the dietary habits of the local population. He discovered that the type of diet gave a protective effect from disease. This diet consisted of an abundance of fruit, vegetables, cereals and legumes, a moderate consumption of fish, little meat, and the use of olive oil as a condiment fat. The Mediterranean Diet is much more than a simple diet as it includes many aspects of culture and society. In 2010, UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization named the Mediterranean Diet an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and states that: “The Mediterranean Diet includes a range of skills, knowledge, rituals, symbols and traditions concerning agriculture, harvesting, fishing, animal husbandry, conservation, cooking and especially the sharing and consumption of food. Eating together is the foundation of the cultural identity and the continuity of communities throughout the Mediterranean basin. The Mediterranean Diet emphasizes the values of hospitality, neighbourliness, intercultural dialogue and creativity; it represents a lifestyle guided by respect for diversity”. The Mediterranean Diet is commonly represented by the food pyramid. It is a graphic that through a set of drawings, images and words helps to understand some aspects of the diet. The many types of food (cereals, meats, fish, milk and dairy products, fruits, vegetables, etc) are arranged on different levels in the pyramid on the basis of their nutritional characteristics.