The promise of a long, healthy, happy existence living an active, community-based lifestyle under warm, sunny skies may be within reach. In fact, it could be on your table. The Mediterranean diet has been included on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list since 2010 .
Not only does the diet have guaranteed cultural value, it is also a powerful strategic tool for promoting food products such as olive oil. Often cited for its health benefits , the Mediterranean diet was first described in a 1953 book about Crete . At the time, people were amazed at the low incidence of cardiovascular disease among the inhabitants of this Greek island, compared with northern Europeans.
Among other things, this olive oil-based diet encourages the consumption of fresh foods, seasonal fruit and vegetables and whole grains . It embodies the essence of the Mediterranean lifestyle, according to the UNESCO definition: The Mediterranean diet involves a set of skills, knowledge, rituals, symbols and traditions concerning crops, harvesting, fishing, animal husbandry, conservation, processing, cooking, and particularly the sharing and consumption of food. Eating together is the foundation of the cultural identity and continuity of communities throughout the Mediterranean Basin.
It is a moment of social exchange and communication, an affirmation and renewal of family, group or community identity. But beyond its impact on our health, what does the Mediterranean diet say about us as a society? Could it .