scholarly journals Changes in food supply in Mediterranean countries from 1961 to 2001

2006 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reina Garcia-Closas ◽  
Antoni Berenguer ◽  
Carlos A González
Keyword(s):  
Olive Oil ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Food Supply ◽  
Dietary Pattern ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Geographical Differences ◽  
Mediterranean Countries ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Traditional Mediterranean Diet ◽  
The 1960S

AbstractObjectiveTo describe geographical differences and time trends in the supply of the most important food components of the traditional Mediterranean diet.DesignFood supply data collected from national food balance sheets for the period 1961–2001.SettingSelected Mediterranean countries: Spain, Italy, France, Greece, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey.ResultsDifferences of almost 30-fold and five-fold were found in the supply of olive oil and fruits and vegetables, respectively, among the Mediterranean countries studied during the 1960s. A favourable increasing trend for the supply of fruit and vegetables was observed in most Mediterranean countries. However, an increase in the supply of meats and dairy products and a decrease in the supply of cereals and wine were observed in European Mediterranean countries from 1961 until 2001. Only in African and Asiatic Mediterranean countries were cereals the base of food supply. During the 1990s, Greece's food supply pattern was closest to the traditional Mediterranean diet, while Italy and Spain maintained a high availability of fruits, vegetables and olive oil, but were losing the other typical components. Among African and Asiatic Mediterranean countries, only Turkey presented a traditional Mediterranean dietary pattern except with respect to olive oil, the supply of which was very low. France showed a Western dietary pattern, with a high supply of animal products and a low supply of olive oil.ConclusionsDietary supplies in the Mediterranean area were quite heterogeneous in the 1960s and have experienced a process of Westernization, especially in European Mediterranean countries.

Diet and cancer in Mediterranean countries: carbohydrates and fats

2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (9A) ◽  
pp. 1595-1600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Bosetti ◽  
Claudio Pelucchi ◽  
Carlo La Vecchia
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Risk ◽  
Olive Oil ◽  
Digestive Tract ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Glycaemic Index ◽  
Case Control Studies ◽  
Mediterranean Countries ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Mediterranean

AbstractObjectiveSeveral aspects of the diet characteristic of the Mediterranean countries are considered favourable not only on cardiovascular disease, but also on cancer risk. We considered some aspects of the Mediterranean diet (including, in particular, the consumption of olive oil and carbohydrates) on cancer risk.Design, Setting and SubjectsData were derived from a series of case-control studies, conducted in Italy since the early 1990s, on over 10 000 cases of thirteen cancer sites and over 17 000 controls.ResultsOlive oil, and other mono- and unsaturated fats, appear to be favourable indicators of breast, ovarian, colorectal, but mostly of upper aero-digestive tract cancers. Whole grain foods are also related to reduced risk of upper aero-digestive tract and various other cancers. In contrast, refined grain intake and, consequently, glycaemic index and glycaemic load were associated to increased risk for several cancer sites. Fish, and hence a diet rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, tended to be another favourable diet indicator, while frequent red meat intake was directly related to some common neoplasms. An a priori defined Mediterranean diet score was inversely related to upper digestive and respiratory tract cancers.ConclusionsThese data provide additional evidence that major characteristics of the Mediterranean diet favourably affect cancer risk.

scholarly journals Mediterranean dietary pattern and mortality among young women: a cohort study in Sweden

2006 ◽  
Vol 96 (2) ◽  
pp. 384-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pagona Lagiou ◽  
Dimitrios Trichopoulos ◽  
Sven Sandin ◽  
Areti Lagiou ◽  
Lorelei Mucci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Cancer Mortality ◽  
Dietary Pattern ◽  
European Population ◽  
Mediterranean Dietary Pattern ◽  
Northern European ◽  
Point Increase ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Traditional Mediterranean Diet

Studies of diet and health focus increasingly on dietary patterns. Although the traditional Mediterranean diet is perceived as being healthy, there is little information on its possible benefit to young people. We studied whether closer adherence to the traditional Mediterranean dietary pattern was associated with overall and cancer mortality in a cohort of 42237 young women, aged 30–49 years at enrolment, who were recruited in 1991–2 from the general population in the Uppsala Health Care Region, Sweden, and followed up, almost completely, for about 12 years. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed by a 10-point score incorporating the characteristics of this diet. Among women less than 40 years old at enrolment – whose causes of death are mainly cancer with probable genetic influences, injuries or suicide – there was no association of the Mediterranean diet score with total or cancer mortality. Among women 40–49 years old at enrolment, a 2-point increase in the score was associated with considerable reductions in overall mortality (13%; 95% CI 1%, 23%; P∼0·05) and cancer mortality (16%; 95% CI −1%, 29%; P∼0·06). Few cardiovascular deaths occurred in this cohort of young women. The findings of the present study in a northern European population of young women indicate that closer adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern reduces mortality even among young persons.

scholarly journals The Mediterranean Diet and the Increasing Demand of the Olive Oil Sector: Shifts and Environmental Consequences

REGION ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Neves ◽  
Iva Miranda Pires
Keyword(s):  
Olive Oil ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Agricultural Policies ◽  
Slow Food ◽  
Mediterranean Countries ◽  
The World ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Oil Sector ◽  
Increasing Demand

Mediterranean countries play a crucial role as olive oil producers and consumers compared to other world regions. This work focusses on the development of the world production, trade and consumption where the Mediterranean region stands out from the rest of the world, in particular, the Northern Mediterranean countries. Aspects such as how communication emphasizes the benefits of the Mediterranean diet - which is a distinctive characteristic of the Mediterranean culture and identity - the Slow Food Movement, the International Olive Council campaigns, and the successive Common Agricultural Policies, that have triggered production, trade and consumption around the world, are here discussed. Such increases and stimuli brought and is still bringing changes to the olive oil sector such as a shifting tendency in production modes as well as modernization of the sector, responding to the increasing demand. These shifts and demand are changing landscapes and are being referred as environmentally harmful to the ecosystems as the production of olive oil is shifting to more intensive production systems and monoculture plantations. These issues are here debated and illustrated with case study examples, referring to the Mediterranean countries, particularly, referring to the Iberian Peninsula.

scholarly journals The effects of Mediterranean diet and EVOO consumption in relation to human health

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 466-485
Author(s):  
Evangelia BASDEKI ◽  
Constantinos SALIS ◽  
Marianna HAGIDIMITRIOU
Keyword(s):  
Olive Oil ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Virgin Olive Oil ◽  
Antioxidant Properties ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Extra Virgin Olive Oil ◽  
Monounsaturated Fatty Acids ◽  
Morbidity Rate ◽  
Mediterranean Countries ◽  
The Mediterranean

The Mediterranean basin is characterized by the presence and cultivation of olive trees since antiquity. All of the Mediterranean countries and especially Greece and Italy, are characterized by similar food patterns that are described as “Mediterranean diet”. The core of this diet is the daily intake of plant foods and as its main source of fat is olive oil and particularly in Greece EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil). EVOO contains a large percentage of MUFA (monounsaturated fatty acids - approximately 80% of its total lipid concentration), as well as some other substances in smaller concentrations such as oleocanthal, hydroxytyrosol, oleuropein etc. The greater the adherence to the Mediterranean diet and to the intake of EVOO as the main fat source, the greater the health benefits encountered. Some of these benefits that have been reported are due to the antioxidant properties of EVOO, its anti-inflammatory effects, its ability to regulate the endothelial function, lipids, haemostasis, coagulation and fibrinolysis. Moreover, EVOO has a positive effect in chronic diseases such as obesity, metabolic and amyloid diseases, while it reduces the risk of cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, it influences the aging process by reducing the genome and proteome damage that lead to aging. All the data collected, demonstrate that a daily intake of EVOO combined with a good percentile of adherence to the Mediterranean diet lead to a healthier lifestyle, longevity and a reduced morbidity rate.

scholarly journals Worldwide variation of adherence to the Mediterranean diet, in 1961–1965 and 2000–2003

2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (9A) ◽  
pp. 1676-1684 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rui da Silva ◽  
Anna Bach-Faig ◽  
Blanca Raidó Quintana ◽  
Genevieve Buckland ◽  
Maria Daniel Vaz de Almeida ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Dietary Pattern ◽  
The Other ◽  
Mediterranean Country ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
Balance Sheets ◽  
Mediterranean Countries ◽  
The World ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
European Group

AbstractObjectiveThe present study aimed to analyse the worldwide trends of adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), in 1961–1965 and 2000–2003.DesignData were obtained from the FAO food balance sheets in two periods: 1961–1965 and 2000–2003. In order to have a sample from across the world, forty-one countries were selected. The average of available energy for different food groups was calculated for all selected countries. These values were used to evaluate the adherence to the MD through a variation of Mediterranean Adequacy Index (MAI).ResultsThe majority of the forty-one countries in this study have tended to drift away from a Mediterranean-like dietary pattern. Mediterranean Europe and the Other Mediterranean country groups suffered a significant decrease in their MAI values. The Mediterranean European group, especially Greece, experienced the greatest decrease in MAI value.In both periods, the Other Mediterranean countries showed the highest MAI values. In an analysis by countries, Iran had the highest increase in MAI across the time periods, and Egypt occupied the first place in the ranking in 2000–2003.The Northern European group was the only one that registered an increase in MAI, although this was not statistically significant.ConclusionsMany countries in the Mediterranean basin are drifting away from the Mediterranean dietary pattern (MDP). However, countries in Northern Europe and some other countries around the world are taking on a Mediterranean-like dietary pattern. The Other Mediterranean countries have the closest adherence to the MDP, currently and in the 1960s. Nutrition policy actions to tackle dietary westernisation and preserve the healthy prudent MDP are required.

scholarly journals Are the advantages of the Mediterranean diet transferable to other populations? A cohort study in Melbourne, Australia

1999 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antigone Kouris-Blazos ◽  
Charalambos Gnardellis ◽  
Mark L. Wahlqvist ◽  
Dimitrios Trichopoulos ◽  
Widjaja Lukito ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Validated Questionnaire ◽  
Mediterranean Countries ◽  
Unit Increase ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Traditional Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Diet Score ◽  
Overall Mortality

A prospective cohort study, involving 141 Anglo-Celts and 189 Greek-Australians of both sexes aged 70 years or more, was undertaken in Melbourne, Australia. The objective was to evaluate whether adherence to the principles of the Mediterranean diet affects survival of elderly people in developed non-Mediterranean countries. Diet was assessed using an extensive validated questionnaire on food intake. A one unit increase in a diet score, devised a priori on the basis of eight key features of the traditional common diet in the Mediterranean region, was associated with a 17 % reduction in overall mortality (two-tailed P value 0·07). Mortality reduction with increasing diet score was at least as evident among Anglo-Celts as among Greek-Australians. We conclude that a diet that adheres to the principles of the traditional Mediterranean diet is associated with longer survival among Australians of either Greek or Anglo-Celtic origin.

scholarly journals Availability of Mediterranean and non-Mediterranean foods during the last four decades: comparison of several geographical areas

2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (9A) ◽  
pp. 1667-1675 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Vareiro ◽  
Anna Bach-Faig ◽  
Blanca Raidó Quintana ◽  
Isabel Bertomeu ◽  
Genevieve Buckland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Olive Oil ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Food Availability ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Alcoholic Beverages ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Mediterranean Countries ◽  
Mediterranean Europe ◽  
The Mediterranean

AbstractObjectiveThe purpose of the present study was to evaluate the changes in the availability of the most important food components of the traditional Mediterranean diet and other food groups in five geographical areas during a 43-year period.DesignEcological study with food availability data obtained from FAO food balance sheets in forty-one countries for the period 1961–1965 and 2000–2004.SettingMediterranean, Northern and Central Europe, Other Mediterranean countries and Other Countries of the World were the studied areas.ResultsThe main changes since the 1960s, at an availability level, were found in European areas and in Other Mediterranean countries. The greatest changes were found in Mediterranean Europe, recording high availability of non-Mediterranean food groups (animal fats, vegetable oils, sugar and meat), whereas the availability of alcoholic beverages, including wine, and legumes decreased. Despite having lost some of its typical characteristics, Mediterranean Europe has more olive oil, vegetables, fruits and fish available than other areas. Although Northern Europe has a greater availability of non-Mediterranean foods, there has been a tendency towards a decrease in availability of some of these foods and to increase Mediterranean food such as olive oil and fruits.ConclusionsThe present study suggests that European countries, especially those in the Mediterranean area, have experienced a ‘westernisation’ process of food habits, and have increasingly similar patterns of food availability (mainly non-Mediterranean food groups) among them. Measures must be taken to counteract these tendencies and to avoid their possible negative consequences. It is also crucial to find ways to promote and preserve the Mediterranean diet and its lifestyle in modern societies.

Homocysteine Levels Show Significant Differences among Mediterranean Dietary Quality Index Variables Compared to Folate and Vitamin B12 Status in Women

2015 ◽  
Vol 85 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 202-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivona Višekruna ◽  
Ivana Rumbak ◽  
Ivana Rumora Samarin ◽  
Irena Keser ◽  
Jasmina Ranilović
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Quality Index ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Dietary Quality ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Poor Diet ◽  
The Mediterranean

Abstract. Results of epidemiologic studies and clinical trials have shown that subjects following the Mediterranean diet had lower inflammatory markers such as homocysteine (Hcy). Therefore, the aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess female diet quality with the Mediterranean diet quality index (MDQI) and to determine the correlation between MDQI, homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 levels in the blood. The study participants were 237 apparently healthy women (96 of reproductive age and 141 postmenopausal) between 25 and 93 years. For each participant, 24-hour dietary recalls for 3 days were collected, MDQI was calculated, and plasma Hcy, serum and erythrocyte folate and vitamin B12 levels were analysed. Total MDQI ranged from 8 to 10 points, which represented a medium-poor diet for the subjects. The strength of correlation using biomarkers, regardless of group type, age, gender and other measured parameters, was ranked from best (0.11) to worst (0.52) for olive oil, fish, fruits and vegetables, grains, and meat, in this order. Hcy levels showed the best response among all markers across all groups and food types. Our study shows significant differences between variables of the MDQI and Hcy levels compared to levels of folate and vitamin B12 in participants with medium-poor diet quality, as evaluated according to MDQI scores.

scholarly journals Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO): Quality, Safety, Authenticity, and Adulteration

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 995
Author(s):  
Theodoros Varzakas
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Olive Oil ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Virgin Olive Oil ◽  
Extra Virgin Olive Oil ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
The Mediterranean Basin

The prevention and bioactivity effects associated with the so-called “Mediterranean diet” make olive oil the most consumed edible fat in the food intake of the Mediterranean basin [...]

scholarly journals Mediterranean Diet: The Need for Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 5687
Author(s):  
F. Xavier Medina
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Dietary Pattern ◽  
The Past ◽  
Sustainable Diet ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Past Half

The notion of the Mediterranean diet has progressively evolved over the past half a century, from a healthy (coronary) dietary pattern to a model of sustainable diet [...]

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