The Mediterranean diet : health and science

Summary: The Mediterranean Diet: Health and Science is a must-have introduction to the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet, and the epidemiological and experimental evidence that underpins these benefits. This book is a timely and accessible account of the Mediterranean diet for nutritionists and dietitians. It discusses the Mediterranean diet in the light of recent developments in nutritional biochemistry, disease mechanisms and the epidemiological studies, and also provides advice on nutrition policies and interventions. Recent large-scale epidemiological studies have confirmed the pre-eminence of the Mediterranean diet for reducing the risk of primary and secondary heart disease and cancer. There is also increasingly convincing evidence for its protective value against diabetes, dementias and other age-related diseases, and for increasing overall longevity. The importance of the Mediterranean diet was recently highlighted by its inclusion in UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The Mediterranean Diet: Health and Science opens with an overview of the Mediterranean diet, followed by a survey of the latest epidemiological evidence for its health benefits. There is detailed nutritional information on olive oil, wine, fish, fruit and vegetables, and other components of the Mediterranean diet, and this information is used to explain how the diet protects against a range of age-related diseases. The book emphasizes the importance of understanding the Mediterranean diet in its totality by discussing the evidence for beneficial interactions between various components of the diet. There are also discussions of how agricultural practices, as well as food preparation and cooking techniques, influence the nutritional quality of the diet. The book concludes by discussing the social context in which the Mediterranean diet is eaten, and public health issues associated with adopting a Mediterranean diet, especially in the context of more northerly countries.