The Mediterranean-Style Diet: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives

Aboul‐Enein, Basil H.

doi:10.18314/jnb.v2i1.102

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…In Homer’s The Iliad , Podalirius, one of two physicians described in the epic, had an interest in nutrition. 1–3 Pythagoras, Xenocrates, Apollonius, and other Greek polymaths advocated the importance of a predominantly plant-based diet. 4 The convergence of trading, philosophies, empires, and religions around the Mediterranean basin produced an integrated diversity of culture and civilization as witnessed by the Romans, Phoenicians, Hebrews, Byzantines, Arabs, and the Ottoman Turks.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…4 The convergence of trading, philosophies, empires, and religions around the Mediterranean basin produced an integrated diversity of culture and civilization as witnessed by the Romans, Phoenicians, Hebrews, Byzantines, Arabs, and the Ottoman Turks. 3,5–7 So lasting and profound were these integrations of cultures and empires, typified by the immemorial vineyards and olive trees, the dietary components of what would become known as the Mediterranean diet (MDiet) manifested over the centuries. 3,6 Written works by Avicenna (980–1037), Rhazes (854–925), and other Arab and Persian polymaths during the Islamic Golden Age produced theses and monographs related to diet, health promotion, and disease prevention.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…3,5–7 So lasting and profound were these integrations of cultures and empires, typified by the immemorial vineyards and olive trees, the dietary components of what would become known as the Mediterranean diet (MDiet) manifested over the centuries. 3,6 Written works by Avicenna (980–1037), Rhazes (854–925), and other Arab and Persian polymaths during the Islamic Golden Age produced theses and monographs related to diet, health promotion, and disease prevention. 8 Today, the MDiet has been characterized as an international dietary model that has remained nearly constant over time earning its position in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ancel Benjamin Keys (1904–2004): His early works and the legacy of the modern Mediterranean diet

2017

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Culturally congruent dietary patterns have evolved with geographic and societal traditions and can be traced as far back as pre-Hellenistic Greece. Today, the modern Mediterranean diet (MDiet) is recognized internationally as an anti-obesogenic cardioprotective dietary model consisting of plant-based foods native to the Mediterranean basin, fish, olive oil, and an active lifestyle. With the assumption that obesity and heart disease rates adversely affected life expectancy, the MDiet was identified by Dr Ancel Keys as a primary characteristic among people-groups largely immune to these trends. Following extensive research on how food quality affected human performance, Keys engineered the largest ecologic investigation of dietary habits and their effects on heart disease and longevity known as the Seven Countries Study. A new understanding of how regionally and culturally specific diets affected entire populations led to the introduction of the MDiet to the global public health community. This historiographic portrait of Dr Keys describes his humble beginnings, highlights critical points in his career, discusses his seminal research into diet and culture as protective agents, and details his legacy as the pioneer of the modern MDiet.

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