Mediterranean Diet and its Benefits on Health and Mental Health: A Literature Review

Abstract

Mediterranean Diet (MD) is currently considered one of the most healthy dietary models worldwide. It is generally based on the daily intake of fruit and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, fish, white meats, and olive oil. It may also include moderate consumption of fermented dairy products, a low intake of red meat, and red/white wine during the main course. Even if the effect of MD on cancer prevention as well as on human metabolic and cardiovascular balance has been discussed, including the quality of life of the exposed population, the putative effects on mental health are still not properly investigated. This narrative review reports on some emerging pieces of evidence on the possible impact of MD on general health and the outcome of psychiatric disorders (e.g., major depression, anxiety) and encourages further studies to test the benefits of healthy food selection on the health of the general population.

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“…Therefore, participants adolescents seem to have had healthy eating habits during the pandemic, and future research could investigate whether these habits have become even healthier than before the pandemic, as suggested by other national findings ( 13 ). Otherwise, the absence of unhealthy eating behaviors during confinement can be due to a beneficial effect of having home-cooked and regular meals instead of pre-packed meals in the dining-halls, as happened in pre-pandemic adolescents' lives ( 67 ).…”

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“…Other evidence from the literature confirmed the role of this dietary pattern in preventing overall cancer mortality and neurodegenerative diseases [ 41 , 42 ]. Most recently, research confirmed the role of this dietary pattern in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases (such as blood pressure, dyslipidemia, and diabetes) and cancer as well as brain function (e.g., Parkinson’s disease) [ 63 ] and mental health conditions (e.g., major depression, and anxiety) [ 64 ]. Additionally, a very recent international research study suggested that increased adherence to the Mediterranean Diet seems to be positively related with increased physical activity in youth [ 65 ].…”

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“…Despite variations in what foods/ food groups constituted a typical MD, such a pattern is generally characterized by high intakes of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, and legumes; moderate to high consumption of fish; a limited amount of red meat and processed meat; and red wine (21) . Available evidence indicated a multitude of health benefits of the MD including lower risk of obesity (22) , diabetes and associated metabolic abnormalities (23) , preventions of certain cancers (24) , and more recently a decrease in the risk of mental disorders, including cognitive decline and depression (25) . Among the health benefits cited for the MD are those related to pregnancy outcomes and the health of mother and Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core.…”