From Mediterranean diet to Mediterranean lifestyle: a narrative review

Abstract

Objective:To summarize the recent scientific evidence regarding the wellness-promoting capacity of the Mediterranean lifestyle (ML), with a special focus on physical, social and environmental wellness.Design:Narrative review of English-language publications in PubMed, Scopus and Embase, from 1 January 2010 to 31 October 2018.Setting:Prospective cohort studies, interventional studies, meta-analyses and reviews of those investigating the effect of at least one component of the ML on wellness parameters.Participants:General population.Results:Although an explicit definition of ML is missing, compliance with various combinations of its components improves metabolic health and protects against or ameliorates disease state. However, there is heterogeneity in the healthy behaviours that the ML-focused studies include in their design and the way these are assessed. Also, despite that features of the ML could contribute to other wellness dimensions, there are no studies exploring the effect this healthy lifestyle could confer to them.Conclusions:Chronic lifestyle diseases are of multifactorial aetiology and they warrant multifaceted approaches targeting the general way of living. ML, if thoroughly evaluated, can provide a valuable tool to holistically promote health and wellness.

Adherence to the Mediterranean Lifestyle and Desired Body Weight Loss in a Mediterranean Adult Population with Overweight: A PREDIMED-Plus Study

“…Briefly, the MedDiet is a food pattern rich in fruits, vegetables, olive oil, whole grains, legumes, nuts, fish and a preference of white over read meat. Less consistent are the recommendations for fermentable dairy products and red wine in the literature [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. From a holistic point of view, the MedDiet has been considered one of the key elements of the so-called Mediterranean lifestyle, which moreover adds to the diet qualities of eco-friendly and sustainability by the preference for locally produced, traditional and seasonal foods.…”

“…From a holistic point of view, the MedDiet has been considered one of the key elements of the so-called Mediterranean lifestyle, which moreover adds to the diet qualities of eco-friendly and sustainability by the preference for locally produced, traditional and seasonal foods. Further from food itself, it also implies correct hydration, home-made food preparation, sociable eating with family or friends, regular outdoor physical activity, relaxation and rest [ 14 , 15 ].…”

Mediterranean Diet Nutrients to Turn the Tide against Insulin Resistance and Related Diseases

“…Being predominantly plant-based, the MedDiet is characterized by a daily abundance of vegetables, legumes, whole grain bread and other cereals, nuts and seeds, fresh fruit as the typical dessert, extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) as the principal source of fat, a low to moderate consumption of dairy products, fish, poultry, and eggs, a low consumption of red meat, and a moderate consumption of wine, normally with meals [20]. As a consequence, this eating pattern is low in saturated fat (~10% of energy) [21], and rich in several minor functional components, including vitamins, carotenoids, unsaturated fatty acids, and various bioactive plant-derived phenolic compounds, depicted by antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, currently in the center of research interest [22]. Phenolic compounds from plant sources may also modulate insulin action and metabolism in insulin-sensitive tissues, with potential preventive or curative effects against IR and IR-related diseases.…”

A Sustainable Approach to the Metabolic Syndrome in Children and Its Economic Burden

“…Moreover, most of the latest reviews and meta-analysis focused on determining the prevalence of adults or late teenagers using different methods. It is, therefore, not surprising that there is no consensus as to whether or how MetS should be identified in pediatric populations [3,21]. Risk factor screening and identification of pediatric populations with increased MetS risk will allow providers to detect patients at increased cardiometabolic risk and therefore play a central role in preventive pediatric care.…”

“…As a result, the frequency of excessive weight has increased mainly in developed countries, such as the USA, and developing countries, such as Mexico [2]. Meanwhile, the frequency of undernutrition continues, especially in developing countries, such as Cameroon [2][3][4][5].…”