A UNESCO intergovernmental committee, chaired by Kenyan Jacob Ole Miaron, has decided to include theMediterranean diet on the List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The candidature was presented jointly by Spain, Greece, Italy and Morocco.
According to UNESCO, “the Mediterranean diet is a set of skills, knowledge, practices and traditions related to human nutrition, ranging from the earth to the table, covering crops, harvests and fishing, as well as conservation, transformation and preparation of food and, in particular, its consumption “. The committee emphasizes that the main ingredients of this diet are “theolive oil, thecereals, thefresh or dried fruits and vegetables, a moderate proportion of meat, fish and dairy products, and abundant condiments and spices, whose consumption at the table is accompanied bywineor infusions, always respecting the beliefs of each community. “In addition, he emphasizes that the Mediterranean diet -whose name comes from the Greek worddiaita, which means way of life – not only includes food, but is “a cultural element that encourages social interaction.”
Good for everything
A study presented at the last Annual Meeting of the American Neurological Association revealed that the Mediterranean diet protects areas of the brain related to memory and thinking, and reduces the risk of stroke. On the other hand, according to research published in the prestigious journalBritish Medical Journalin 2008, this type of dietprotects us from most chronic diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, and Parkinson’s disease.
