“Mediterranean diet. The ideal recipe”, on Arte.tv: Health on a plate

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In May 2005, in Rome, on the occasion of an international conference dedicated to the Mediterranean diet, our colleague Jean-Yves Nau wrote world From May 24, 2005: The secrets and virtues of the “Mediterranean diet” are slowly being unveiled, a slogan that suggests a list of dietary restrictions while it is a question of education in dietary enjoyment. »

Almost twenty years later, research and discoveries have made great strides, with documentaries reporting on the progress, even if some, like the recent series 100 Years of Completion: Secrets of the Blue Zone, By journalist Dan Buettner, offered by Netflix, regrettably biased the topic.

Many scientists, previously skeptical, have been convinced by the convincing results obtained by long-term and large-scale studies conducted since the early 1990s. What the Franco-Greek documentary is about (remember that the most famous ruler of this region is Cretan) Mediterranean diet. Ideal recipeBy Alexandros Merkouris, made available by Arte.tv.

“Superfood”

It is recalled that the first of the discoveries made through the observation of this diet, reduced in red meat, sugars and fats of animal origin (butter, cream), but rich in fruits (fresh and dried), vegetables and legumes. Contribution to the fight against cardiovascular diseases.

It was the work of Ansel Keys (1904-2004), nicknamed “Mr. Olive Oil” (and a dying centenarian!), who highlighted the benefits of vegetable fats, including olive oil. Today’s medicine confirms that: “Olive oil very effectively prevents myocardial infarction”, as one of the many scientists interviewed, Miguel Angel Martínez-González, a Spanish professor of public health, puts it. And to add: “I don’t like to talk “Superfood”, but if there was one, it would be olive oil. »

Another section of the documentary focuses on the benefits of this diet in relation to certain cancers (breast cancer, colorectal cancer). A disease, recalls Walter Willett, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the TH Chan School of Public Health at Harvard University, that was previously associated with smoking but which, otherwise, “Seemed like divine punishment striking at random.”

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The most interesting part of Alexandros Mercouris’ film concerns links that were not yet on the agenda of the 2005 Rome conference: between a Mediterranean-type diet and the risk of senile dementia, studied particularly in France. By increasing the daily consumption of fruits, vegetables and fatty fish, the risk of Alzheimer’s disease will decrease by 30% to 36%.

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Other benefits, clinically observed, have been listed, but there is still a way to go in research and, even more, in dietary education of the population. Because, remember it at the beginning Mediterranean diet. ideal recipe,

Cretan youth now eat processed industrial products…

Mediterranean diet. Ideal recipeDocumentary by Alexandros Mercouris (Fr-Gr, 2023, 52 min) on Arte.tv and YouTube until February 11.

Renaud Machart