Med Diet 4.0: the Mediterranean diet with four sustainable benefits

Abstract

Objective: To characterize the multiple dimensions and benefits of the Mediterranean diet as a sustainable diet, in order to revitalize this intangible food heritage at the country level; and to develop a multidimensional framework -the Med Diet 4.0 -in which four sustainability benefits of the Mediterranean diet are presented in parallel: major health and nutrition benefits, low environmental impacts and richness in biodiversity, high sociocultural food values, and positive local economic returns. Design: A narrative review was applied at the country level to highlight the multiple sustainable benefits of the Mediterranean diet into a single multidimensional framework: the Med Diet 4.0. Setting/subjects: We included studies published in English in peer-reviewed journals that contained data on the characterization of sustainable diets and of the Mediterranean diet. The methodological framework approach was finalized through a series of meetings, workshops and conferences where the framework was presented, discussed and ultimately refined. Results: The Med Diet 4.0 provides a conceptual multidimensional framework to characterize the Mediterranean diet as a sustainable diet model, by applying principles of sustainability to the Mediterranean diet. Conclusions: By providing a broader understanding of the many sustainable benefits of the Mediterranean diet, the Med Diet 4.0 can contribute to the revitalization of the Mediterranean diet by improving its current perception not only as a healthy diet but also a sustainable lifestyle model, with country-specific and culturally appropriate variations. It also takes into account the identity and diversity of food cultures and systems, expressed within the notion of the Mediterranean diet, across the Mediterranean region and in other parts of the world. Further multidisciplinary studies are needed for the assessment of the sustainability of the Mediterranean diet to include these new dimensions. Keywords Mediterranean dietSustainable diets Sustainable food systems Public health nutrition Food security and nutrition Sustainability

The Role of Cultural Factors in Sustainable Food Consumption—An Investigation of the Consumption Habits among International Students in Hungary

“…It is essentially nutrient-rich and rich in vitamins, contributes to the ideal body weight and reduces the risk of certain diseases (like metabolic syndrome, obesity, type-II diabetes) and aging. Doing all this by lowering the burden on the environment and enriching biodiversity enhances the socio-cultural value of food and stimulates the local economy [41]. In other guidelines, we can observe similar results.…”

The Association between Salt Taste Perception, Mediterranean Diet and Metabolic Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…As we reported previously, it was particularly low in younger age groups, and lower in men compared to women [17]. Unfortunately, this departure from the traditional Mediterranean diet in the population of Dalmatia represents potentially invaluable losses in the domains of population health, environmental sustainability, local economy and cultural heritage preservation [67]. Population health might be on the line already, given that the recent generations of the Adriatic islanders have lost their advantage in life expectancy at birth compared to the mainland population, possibly due to diminishing adherence to the Mediterranean diet and traditional lifestyle [68].…”

The Mediterranean diet, an environmentally friendly option: evidence from the Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra (SUN) cohort

“…In the 1990s, Gussow started studying the MedDiet according to its impact on the environment (22) , and in 2009, the MedDiet was declared a sustainable dietary model due to its nutritional, environmental, economic and sociocultural dimensions (23)(24)(25) . From then on, the new version of the Mediterranean diet pyramid, for the first time, included not only the main characteristic foods but also biodiversity and eco-friendly products (1) .…”