Sustainable food systems and healthy diets: the case of mediterranean diet

Abstract

Sustainability should be an imperative in everyone’s lifestyle in order to achieve an equilibrium between humans and ecosystem for the wellbeing of current and future generations. Sustainable food systems and healthy diets are main key-players to achieve sustainable planet and lifestyle and at the same time to be in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda of 17 global goals set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 to achieve better and sustainable future for all). Such food systems offer not only a way towards ending the hunger, but also enable healthy nations and less environmental pollution. A good representative of a sustainable food system is the Mediterranean diet that is affordable and accessible even in the regions far from the Mediterranean basin. Raw or minimally cooked plant-based food products flavoured by different herbs and spices are the foundation of this diet packed with powerful nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, enriched with healthy fats from extra virgin olive oil. The Mediterranean lifestyle provides many health and wellbeing benefits for humans. Authors believe that adhering to it leads to healthy nations and a sustainable world with less hunger.

Assessment of Ocimum basilicum Essential Oil Anti-Insect Activity and Antimicrobial Protection in Fruit and Vegetable Quality

“…As consumers become increasingly more aware of the human and environmental health, they are willing to pay a higher price for the organic commodities. Therefore, theoretical and practical studies of EOs should continue and more focus is needed on the development, extension and market introduction of newly formulated EO products [62].…”

Organic Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Consumption Profile of a Portuguese Consumer Sample

“…The Mediterranean Diet is recognized as a feeding pattern with multiple benefits on health and nutrition status [41,42]. It also represents a whole way of living embracing diverse, sustainable values, with a positive impact on health, society, economy, and the environment [43,44]. Beyond that, it is a good representative of a sustainable food system because it's based on an ancestral food production system respecting biodiversity, providing a balanced nutritional composition of food, the safety of food based on natural fertilizers, and a low environmental footprint, the positive impact on the local economy, and food security, and a communal sense and identity [43,45].…”

“…It also represents a whole way of living embracing diverse, sustainable values, with a positive impact on health, society, economy, and the environment [43,44]. Beyond that, it is a good representative of a sustainable food system because it's based on an ancestral food production system respecting biodiversity, providing a balanced nutritional composition of food, the safety of food based on natural fertilizers, and a low environmental footprint, the positive impact on the local economy, and food security, and a communal sense and identity [43,45]. But two specific features are quite interesting to mention: the valorization of aromatic plants, especially as alternatives to salt used in cooking procedures, and the valorization of the cultural and familial context sharing knowledge about food preparation and cooking.…”

Mediterranean herbs, spices, and medicinal plants—Natural remedies and rich sources of bioactive compounds

“…MD, if adopted widely, could reduce the high carbon footprint due to the current production of processed food and foods of animal origin, could lead to zero hunger and could lower the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and other "modern day" diseases, among many other benefits. 4,[11][12][13] The regions around the Mediterranean Sea are characterized with high biodiversity of plants, which have a long tradition of being used as herbs and spices in the traditional Mediterranean cuisines, but also in the folk medicine to treat different ailments and injures. Due to the unique region's climate and geography, such as high mountains and coastal areas, some of the herbs, spices, and medicinal plants are indigenous, and some are even endemic, while some of them have been introduced in the region by migration of the people, by trade activities and/or by the region's occupation by other nations.…”