Mediterranean Food and Diets, Global Resource for the Control of Metabolic Syndrome and Chronic Diseases

Origen, componentes y posibles mecanismos de acción de la dieta mediterránea

“…Asimismo, la producción agrícola de la zona central de nuestro país comprende productos similares a aquellos de países mediterráneos 85 , siendo el aceite de oliva y el vino los más representativos 86 . Por otro lado, la gastronomía tradicional chilena posee varios platos distintivos que utilizan ingredientes y formas de preparación similares a la DMed.…”

Mediterranean Diet beyond the Mediterranean Basin: Chronic Disease Prevention and Treatment

“…Geographically, these Mediterranean ecosystems are localized on the western coasts of continental landmasses, at latitudes comprised between 30 and 45° north or south [37]. All of these regions are considered biodiversity hot spots with some of the world's best environments for agriculture and human habitation.…”

“…Traditional Chilean cuisine uses ingredients and cooking techniques that are very similar to those utilized in the Mediterranean culinary traditions of Spain, Italy, and Greece [37,40]. Characteristic Chilean dishes, such as charquicán (stewed vegetables with minced meat), porotos granados (stewed vegetables, basil, and fresh beans), porotos con riendas (stewed vegetables, beans, and pasta), cazuela de ave (boiled chicken, potatoes, pumpkin pieces, green beans, carrots, parsley, rice, and corn), and tomaticán (stewed onion, tomato, corn, and minced meat), are prepared on a flavored base that contains onions, oregano, cumin, black pepper, paprika, and sautéed garlic.…”

“…Traditional Chilean cuisine thus exhibits key Mediterranean characteristics, and the promotion of MedDiet in Chile offers a great opportunity for the management of ongoing epidemiological transition and increasing incidence of risk conditions and NCDs in Chile [37,41]. In fact, data from 2010 to 2015 collected through Programa Aliméntate Sano (www.alimentatesano.cl), an open-access online platform created and led by our institution to provide general lifestyle (including the MedDiet) and health information and resources to the Chilean population, indicate that Chilean adults who exhibit higher adherence to MedDiet (based on a locally developed and validated score) [42] have a lower prevalence of overweight, obesity, and MS [43].…”

“…In spite of the importance of MedDiet in Chile, current economical and epidemiological transitions as well as ongoing lifestyle changes are negatively impacting the use of traditional cuisine and dietary habits in the Chilean population [37,40,41]. Information obtained from the Programa Aliméntate Sano database (n = 53,366 subjects) demonstrate that only 10% of the sampled population complies with a Mediterranean-type diet (2) with higher adherence in women, at older ages, and at higher educational levels.…”