Conceiving the Mediterranean Diet as a Dynamic System of Relationships

The concept of the Mediterranean Diet was described by Ancel Keys from the Seven Countries study, occurring in the 1960s. Unlike other diets, the Mediterranean Diet is a cultural tradition of nations surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. It involves the healthy pattern of food consumption and physical activity, which developed as an outcome of the locality's available food, other environmental resources, and overall cultural characteristics such as the polychromic time orientation of the Mediterranean nations. The Mediterranean Diet is a lifestyle structured around understanding a locality's natural conditions and resources and sustaining positive relationships between individuals, the community, and the components of their environment. The diet is largely plant based, where daily foods include grains, fruits, vegetables, olive oil, and dairy products. Seafood is eaten several times a week, while other animal products (poultry, meats, eggs) and sweets are eaten less often and in moderation. Alcohol, for those who drink it, is consumed several times a week. Research has shown a variety of health benefits from this diet. These benefits include preventing cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, Type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, age related macular degeneration of the eyes, kidney disease and osteoporosis. It also has been shown to improve conditions of metabolic syndrome, obesity, and depression. These favorable health outcomes are a result of the beneficial components within the foods commonly eaten. Fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of vitamins and minerals, which are needed to support cellular and overall organismal functioning, and nuts, vegetables, and fish also provide essential fatty acids like omega-3 and omega-6. The unifying component for all regions adhering to the Mediterranean Diet is the use of olive oil. Beyond being a healthy source of fat, it contains numerous chemical components with antioxidant properties. The Mediterranean region is an optimal region for olive tree growth and olive harvest, based on temperature and soil conditions. However, geographic differences, nutrient availability and age of olive trees can impact the quality of olive fruits and olive oil. Furthermore, climate change presents a challenge for sustaining the Mediterranean diet as it adds stress to plants and aquatic life environments. However, the diet shows promise of protecting the environment, as plant-based diets are found to have lower negative environmental impacts. In conclusion, the Mediterranean diet is an interconnected system of relationships that adapts to a locality's community, land, and climate.