Nutricion hospitalariaAug 3, 2018

The Mediterranean Diet as an Example of Sustainable Food and Nutrition from Multiple Perspectives

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Mar 31, 2026

Abstract

The Mediterranean diet is recognized as a healthy and environmentally sustainable food model.

The Mediterranean diet contributes to lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduced environmental contamination.
It is associated with improved longevity, quality of life, and disease prevention.
UNESCO's recognition has increased global visibility and acceptance of the Mediterranean diet.
This dietary pattern encompasses not only food choices but also cultural practices related to food production and distribution.
Strengthening the Mediterranean diet may lead to better global health indicators and reduced food-related environmental impact.

Simplified

Sustainability represents a major concern in recent years due to climate change pressure. The diet itself contribute to the emission of greenhouse gasses, water and land use, energy consumption and environment contamination. The Mediterranean diet should be understood not only as a set of foods but also as a cultural model that involves the way foods are selected, produced, processed and distributed. The Mediterranean dietary pattern is presented not only as a cultural model but also as a healthy and environmentally friendly model. The recognition by UNESCO, with the consequent increased visibility and acceptance of the Mediterranean diet around the world, along with better and more scientific evidence regarding its benefits and effectiveness on longevity, quality of life and disease prevention, have taken this dietary pattern to an unprecedented historical moment. This is a favorable situation that could possibly enable the strengthening of the Mediterranean diet around the world, thus potentiating improvements in global health indicators and in a reduction of environmental impact by production and transportation of food resources. Therefore, the Mediterranean diet should be seen for what it is: an extremely and incomparable healthy, affordable and environmentally sustainable food model, as well as an ancient cultural heritage that confers identity and belonging. From the heart to the earth through the road of culture, the Mediterranean diet is a cultural heritage that looks to the future.

The Mediterranean Diet as an Example of Sustainable Food and Nutrition from Multiple Perspectives

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