Mediterranean Diet
UNESCO recognized the Mediterranean Diet as an “intangible heritage of humanity" and is the best in the world according to the U.S. diet ranking News & world Report.
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It is a diet that involves a large consumption of:
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whole grains
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fruit, vegetables, herbs
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legumes
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And a reduced consumption of:
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meat
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cold cuts
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sweets
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Its benefits in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer are proven by numerous studies.
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The Mediterranean diet is not only healthy, it is also sustainable: according to the food pyramid scheme, the foods that should be consumed the most are those with the least environmental impact and vice versa.
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According to studies carried out, meat is at the top of the ranking of the most "polluting" foods, responsible for 12% of total greenhouse gas emissions. Less influential, but still with important values, are dairy products, which contribute with a percentage of 5%. The Mediterranean diet, in addition to being the healthiest from a nutritional point of view, would therefore also be sustainable from an environmental point of view since it "involves a high consumption of vegetables, legumes, fresh and nuts, olive oil and cereals; moderate consumption of fish and dairy products (especially cheese and yogurt); an even more moderate consumption of meat and sweets”.
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To understand what are the benefits that the environment could enjoy "just think that if all Italian citizens would not eat meat for just one day a week, there would be a total saving of 198 thousand tons of CO2. Furthermore, by adopting a Mediterranean diet it is possible to save over 2000 liters of water per day, thanks to the reduced consumption of products of animal origin ".
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fonte: ilgiornaledelcibo.it