{"id":49811,"date":"2016-08-19T11:53:36","date_gmt":"2016-08-19T10:53:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/secretosdelsur.com\/mediterraans-dieet\/"},"modified":"2021-04-15T11:30:17","modified_gmt":"2021-04-15T09:30:17","slug":"mediterraans-dieet","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.secretosdelsur.com\/en\/mediterranean-way-of-life\/mediterraans-dieet\/","title":{"rendered":"The mediterranean “diet”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In 2010, the \u201cMediterranean diet\u201d was recognized by UNESCO as an intangible heritage of humanity!
Unfortunately, this Mediterranean dietary pattern is already facing some serious pressure\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indeed, the word \u201cdiet\u201d means \u201crule of life\u201d or \u201clifestyle\u201d, so has a much broader meaning than simply \u201cgoing on a diet\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the sixties a study was made of the countries around the Mediterranean, it having been noticed that people there grew older in a healthier way. Fewer cardiovascular problems, less diabetes and inflammatory diseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paradoxically however, nowadays most obese Europeans are inhabitants of those countries where traditionally people ate the healthiest, ie the Mediterranean. In Greece, as much as 75% of the population is obese, with the European average being 50%. The cuisine of their ancestors is now a \u201cpoor man\u2019s\u201d cuisine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to researchers, the inhabitants of the Mediterranean countries are diverging more and more from the path of their grandparents. Due to the economic crisis, young people tend to go for the cheapest food, and that quite often means a pizza or burger\u2026 Whereas traditionnally mothers did not go out working but made sure they had some healthy food at home; nowadays they too are short of time. As a consequence, there will be more \u201cquick-and-easy\u201d food on the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I have previously pointed out, the Mediterranean diet is based on a \u201cpoor\u201d cuisine with a very simple preparation of fresh products. That is precisely what makes it so \u201crich\u201d! The lack of refrigerators and freezers, and temperatures of up to 40 \u00b0 C and more meant that the women went shopping for food on a daily basis. People living in the mountains often made a \u201cguiso\u201d, this is a broth of fresh vegetables which on the first day was eaten as a soup; the second day rice was added; and the third day, meat. Unfortunately many of these traditions were lost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because of their geographic location, these southern regions mainly depend on fishing, cereal crops and olive trees and not least \u2026 wine growing. Cereal crops provided the base of the food pyramid as the main source of carbohydrates, followed by olive oil as the main source of fats, and fruits and vegetables as a source of dietary fibre. Proteins came from fish, eggs and dairy products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here in Spain, as of 1990-2000, eating meat has become more like a symbol of wealth. Compared to the sixties, people now consume up to three times as much meat and less than half the legumes such as lentils and chickpeas. Suddenly meat has become affordable. At the same time there is also a marked decrease in physical activity such as working in the fields. The rise of bread and fast food has caused traditions to be replaced by \u201cmodern times\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(sources:<\/p>\n\n\n\n