Tat the famous one to have joined the prestigious list of Intangible heritage of UNESCO and to have become today, like many celebrations, Also protagonist of a docu-series. We speak, of course, of the Mediterranean diet.
Mediterranean Melodies It is in fact the title of the series, whose first 4 episodes will be available from mid -February on first video, which traces the History of this long -lived and beloved food model. Through the voice of doctors specialists, scientists, starred chefs and entrepreneurs, The project intends to tell the passion and wisdom that are enclosed behind the products of a food tradition copied all over the world but also to shed light on the essence of the Mediterranean diet, understood as precious tool of well -being.
In the episodes of the docu-series, produced by Recarcano srl and aha studio and conducted by Maria Grazia Cucinotta, they will in fact be involved Several GVM Care & Research specialists (hospital group present in 11 regions with 29 structures) who will guide the spectators to discovery of the benefits of the Mediterranean diet for psychophysical well -being.
Mediterranean diet: history
The Mediterranean diet have been recognized for some important health benefits for some time. It was 1945 when an American contingent landed in Salerno. In tow, it Scientist Ancel Keys who, during his stay in Italy, observing the local population, noticed a peculiar fact: the Almost total absence of cardiovascular pathologies among the residents of the area. The US scientist soon understood that the secret could be the quality of the food consumed, defining the Local lifestyle and typical eating habits such as “Mediterranean diet”. Ancel Keys then led several studies to verify the initial hypotheses confirming the relationship between the diet followed and the scarce incidence of some pathologies. The rest, as they say, is history. In fact, since then we talk about “Mediterranean diet” as an ideal food model to follow for a healthy life.
The benefits of the Mediterranean diet
Today i Scientifically tried benefits of the Mediterranean diet are many.
«From the point of view of the cardiovascular health, The Mediterranean diet ensures a reduction in the risk of heart disease as well as a improvement of the lipid profile, important to combat pathologies associated with hypercholesterolemia-explains one of the specialists involved in the docu-series, the Dr. Alberto Calabrese, nutritionist at Villa Lucia Hospital, Hospital of GVM Care & Research in Conversano. – It is then an excellent Allied in the prevention of type 2 diabetes And it have been recognized as properties antioxidants. The Mediterranean diet includes foods such as seasonal fruit and vegetables but above all olive oil, rich in substances that help fight oxidative stress. Today there is also talk of a Correlation between Mediterranean diet and reduction of the risk of some types of tumors. However, studies relating to the relationship between nutrition and oncological diseases are relatively recent and therefore further results will have to be awaited “.
Is the Mediterranean one an anti -inflammatory diet?
The role that nutrition can play can increasingly underline in reducing or promoting the risk of chronic inflammation. Can the Mediterranean diet be considered anti -inflammatory?
“In reality, the definition of anti -inflammatory diet is not entirely correct – explains the specialist. – rather you have to talk about anti -inflammatory foods And in this sense, yes, the Mediterranean dietary style provides foods that have an anti -inflammatory action, Like vegetables, seasonal fruit and olive oil that contain, in fact, nutrients with high anti -inflammatory action “.
The key principles of the Mediterranean diet
So many benefits, therefore, for what is often defined Not a simple diet but a real lifestylewithin which Certain food is important, but also healthy habits that as regular exercise, conviviality and regularity of meals. Habits that perhaps have been partially forgotten. According to a study by Crea Food and Nutrition, published in the scientific journal Frontiers in NutritionIndeed, Only 13% of Italians follow the Mediterranean diet.
«Certainly the key principles on which the Mediterranean diet is based They are a little lost – explains Dr. Calabrian. – Following this food model means many things, such as buy local products, focusing on the so -called Cort supply chainae then on a good food not only from the point of view of the flavor and taste but also of its production».
The most common mistakes
«In addition, the Mediterranean diet has among its founding principles the consumption of a lot of fruit and vegetables, Even 5/6 portions per day: however if we go to check, this habit is not so much respected by the Italians. At the base of the food pyramid also the Mediterranean diet provides for the consumption of whole grains, So as many natural possible, unplugated, this is also an aspect that is little considered today. It also recommends a moderate consumption of dairy products that are instead more and more present on our tables, as well a very limited consumption of ultra processed foods, like the sausages Which, like other ‘ready -to -consumption’ foods, are instead very present at the table ».
An advantage also for children
A problem, this, which concerns above all i children. Our country is in fact to qOumento placed in Europe by prevalence of overweight and childhood obesity.
«Teaching children the children Good practices of the Mediterranean diet it could help in the obesity prevention – explains Dr. Calabrian. – Today going to school and taking a snack a fruit is now a mirage, it is more often aimed at the classic snack Which in fact is a processed food, rich in sugars. A food that according to the principles of the Mediterranean diet would be good consume once a week. Children and teenagers are missing food education: To fill this gap, we should speak of healthy diet to school, already from the early elementary years. This is because the correlation between teenage obesity and obesity in adulthood».
The importance of food education
Just al theme of overweight and obesity, Conditions that today affect about 20 million Italians (of which about 5 million Obese), the Mediterranean Melodies documentary, will dedicate a particular space, also going to deepen the most innovative therapeutic approaches applied in the Obesity Center of GVM Care & Research, centers where i patients receive a holistic and multidisciplinary framework. Starting precisely from prevention and food education.
Mediterranean diet: advice to set it correctly
The first steps for get closer to the healthy model of the Mediterranean diet In everyday life?
“First of all start using whole grains as a source of carbohydrates, By purchasing wholemeal pasta and bread – the expert suggests. – Then consume more riceeven better if full. And then Try to count how many times we can consume fruit and vegetables over the day. Starting from these simple tricks, we can set up the bases on which to insert the many elements of the Mediterranean dietlike olive oil, seeds, moderate consumption of dried fruit, fish. In short, with the help of a nutritionist you can arrive to structure a Mediterranean food pyramid. This is a bit what we do in ours Obesity center in Bari, within which patients make a real path, based on food education and aimed at building a personalized dietary model For report healthy nutrition in daily lifegoing to correct incorrect eating habits That we have been carrying behind it for a long time ».
The advantages of the short chain
In the docu-series we will also speak a lot about food production. «Yes, the intent is also reveal as the short chainor the fact of to be able to count on available products of our territory and not imported, it can be a Excellent starting point for a healthier diet. Good food starts from those who produce it, from those who cultivate it. The last ring we are consumers – concludes Dr. Calabrian. – If he could have, in everyday life, this control over seasonal products that really reflect our territorythose data that often make us worry about the health of our population, would come down drastically ».
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