What do we know about the Mediterranean diet? #722937

In the Mediterranean basin, food is more than just a vehicle for nutrients. With the most representative -wheat, grapevine and olive-, the countries bathed by this sea have developed an extensive recipe book of common ingredients, although identified with very different and particular names, textures and flavors. A diet based on the Mediterranean diet, with olive oil and nuts, protects the heart and helps increase life expectancy. Theketogenic diets, rich in fat and low in sugar, should be followed under strict medical and nutritional supervision and for a limited time because they may have side effects, such as constipation or abdominal pain. The medical and nutritional community has reached a consensus on the goodness of the traditional Mediterranean diet. This consensus reveals that it contributes to reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, obesity and diabetes, which affect important sectors of developed societies.The Mediterranean diet comprises a set of knowledge, practical skills, rituals, traditions and symbols related to agricultural crops and harvests, fishing and animal husbandry, and also to the way of preserving, transforming, cooking, sharing and consuming food. The act of eating together is one of the foundations of the cultural identity and continuity of the communities of the Mediterranean basin. It is a moment of social exchange and communication, and also of affirmation and renewal of the ties that make up the identity of the family, group or community. This element of intangible cultural heritage highlights the values ​​of hospitality, good neighborliness, intercultural dialogue and creativity, as well as a way of life that is guided by respect for diversity. Besides, it plays an essential role as a factor of social cohesion in cultural spaces, festivities and celebrations, bringing together people of all ages, conditions and social classes. It also covers areas such as crafts and the manufacture of containers for the transport, conservation and consumption of food, such as ceramic plates and glasses. Women play a fundamental role in the transmission of skills and knowledge related to the Mediterranean diet, safeguarding culinary techniques, respecting seasonal rhythms, observing calendar festivals and transmitting the values ​​of this element of cultural heritage to new generations.