Multidimensional Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet Across the Lifespan and Cultures

The Mediterranean Diet, inspired by the traditional eating patterns of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, emphasizes a high intake of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, whole grains, and extra virgin olive oil. It includes moderate consumption of local seafood and poultry, with dairy products, red meat, and pastries consumed in low amounts while wine is consumed in moderation with meals. Rich in polyphenols, plant-based proteins, healthy fats, and carbohydrates, the Mediterranean Diet may reduce low-grade inflammation, modulate mitochondrial function, and support the mechanisms of cellular protection, contributing to improved cardiometabolic health and cognitive function, thus promoting healthspan and longevity.

The benefits of the Mediterranean Diet are further enhanced by the use of culinary herbs and spices, and the consumption of local and seasonal foods with high nutritional value that are typically enjoyed in a social setting during meals.

Therefore, the benefits of the Mediterranean Diet extend its significance beyond the biomedical field, influencing behavioral and environmental variables while also contributing to a more sustainable ecosystem.

This Research Topic aims to provide a comprehensive resource on the Mediterranean Diet by exploring its biological effects, behavioral aspects, and environmental implications across the lifespan and cultures.

We welcome submissions that are related, but not limited to:

• Mediterranean Diet, healthspan, and longevity.
• Mediterranean Diet across the lifespan, from infancy through pregnancy to old age.
• Cellular and molecular effects of the Mediterranean Diet.
• Mental health, cognition, and Mediterranean Diet.
• Mediterranean Diet and chronic diseases.
• The bioactive components in the Mediterranean Diet.
• Nutrigenomics, metabolomics, and Mediterranean dietary components.
• Mediterranean Diet and gut microbiome composition and metabolism.
• Mediterranean Diet in the context of sustainability.
• Fasting, chrononutrition, and the Mediterranean Diet.

We encourage multidisciplinary research contributions that will significantly enhance the existing literature on the Mediterranean Diet, advancing nutritional science and presenting the Mediterranean Diet as a model for health, longevity, and sustainability.

Keywords: Mediterranean Diet, Healthspan, Longevity, Bioactive Compounds, Cellular Protection, Cognitive Function, Sustainability, Cultures

Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.