Despite variability in the constituents of the Mediterranean diet, there has been a solid body of evidence supporting its health benefits. As such many dietary guidelines around the world have been modeled to include elements of the Mediterranean diet. With the release of the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, these guidelines, which originally focused on better health, are being revised to include various dimensions of sustainability including environmental, social, and economic. Therefore, it is critical to revisit the benefits of the Mediterranean diet with a sustainability lens and examine its effects on the environment, its social acceptability, and affordability.
Although the Mediterranean diet engulfs the dietary and cooking practices of countries across the Mediterranean basin, the majority of research focuses on results from Western countries and the Mediterranean north, with little known about Northern Africa and the Middle East. Given the societal, religious, and economical differences that characterize Mediterranean nations, it is important for research to identify, highlight and understand how any geographical variations of the dietary pattern may influence its health and environmental benefits.
One of the many attractive features of this dietary pattern and one that distinguishes it from other healthy and sustainable solutions is the fact that this diet is actually consumed by people and is not based merely on mathematical estimations and experts’ recommendations. The pattern describes a multilevel food system, typical of the local flora and fauna, seasonality, culture, religion, habits, and beliefs that all combined translate to unique cooking and food consumption practices. That said, the available evidence is showing a gradual erosion of this dietary pattern especially in the Mediterranean countries, most of which are undergoing nutrition and epidemiological transition. Such a transition was most pronounced among the younger population groups, who are increasingly adopting a Western type of food consumption. Interventions aiming to promote the adoption of the Mediterranean diet, especially among youth are hence much needed.
We welcome manuscripts with a focus on:
- Health benefits of the Mediterranean diet (metabolic and vascular effects, weight management, inflammation, cognition, longevity, microbiota etc)
- Meditteranean diet interventions outside the Mediterranean basin
- Mediterranean diet and the COVID-19 pandemic
- Sustainability aspects of the Mediterranean diet
- Geographical variations in the definition of the Mediterranean diet and its benefits
- Mediterranean diet among the youth
- Mediterranean food processing (cooking, traditional processing, etc)
- Religious habits such as Christian Orthodox Church (COC) fasting as part of the Mediterranean Diet and their role in shaping dietary habits
- Mediterranean biodiversity and its role in the sustainability and health benefits of the Mediterranean Diet
- Drivers and barriers towards Mediterranean Diet adherence
- The Mediterranean food system and its role in promoting Mediterranean Diet adherence
Despite variability in the constituents of the Mediterranean diet, there has been a solid body of evidence supporting its health benefits. As such many dietary guidelines around the world have been modeled to include elements of the Mediterranean diet. With the release of the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, these guidelines, which originally focused on better health, are being revised to include various dimensions of sustainability including environmental, social, and economic. Therefore, it is critical to revisit the benefits of the Mediterranean diet with a sustainability lens and examine its effects on the environment, its social acceptability, and affordability.
Although the Mediterranean diet engulfs the dietary and cooking practices of countries across the Mediterranean basin, the majority of research focuses on results from Western countries and the Mediterranean north, with little known about Northern Africa and the Middle East. Given the societal, religious, and economical differences that characterize Mediterranean nations, it is important for research to identify, highlight and understand how any geographical variations of the dietary pattern may influence its health and environmental benefits.
One of the many attractive features of this dietary pattern and one that distinguishes it from other healthy and sustainable solutions is the fact that this diet is actually consumed by people and is not based merely on mathematical estimations and experts’ recommendations. The pattern describes a multilevel food system, typical of the local flora and fauna, seasonality, culture, religion, habits, and beliefs that all combined translate to unique cooking and food consumption practices. That said, the available evidence is showing a gradual erosion of this dietary pattern especially in the Mediterranean countries, most of which are undergoing nutrition and epidemiological transition. Such a transition was most pronounced among the younger population groups, who are increasingly adopting a Western type of food consumption. Interventions aiming to promote the adoption of the Mediterranean diet, especially among youth are hence much needed.
We welcome manuscripts with a focus on:
- Health benefits of the Mediterranean diet (metabolic and vascular effects, weight management, inflammation, cognition, longevity, microbiota etc)
- Meditteranean diet interventions outside the Mediterranean basin
- Mediterranean diet and the COVID-19 pandemic
- Sustainability aspects of the Mediterranean diet
- Geographical variations in the definition of the Mediterranean diet and its benefits
- Mediterranean diet among the youth
- Mediterranean food processing (cooking, traditional processing, etc)
- Religious habits such as Christian Orthodox Church (COC) fasting as part of the Mediterranean Diet and their role in shaping dietary habits
- Mediterranean biodiversity and its role in the sustainability and health benefits of the Mediterranean Diet
- Drivers and barriers towards Mediterranean Diet adherence
- The Mediterranean food system and its role in promoting Mediterranean Diet adherence
