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The main countries present in the Mediterranean diet.

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The Mediterranean Diet originated in countries planked by the Mediterranean Sea or

influenced by it.

This pattern began to be described in the 1950s and 1960s, especially in the light of the

that was practiced in Crete, in other regions of Greece and in the south of Italy.

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The Mediterranean diet - derived from the Greek word "diaita", which means a way of life - does not only comprise food, since it is a cultural element that fosters social interaction, verifying that common meals are a cornerstone of customs and the celebration of holiday events. The Mediterranean diet also gave rise to a considerable body of knowledge, songs, choruses, tales and legends.

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The Mediterranean food pyramid.

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Mediterranean food is considered one of the healthiest in the world, as demonstrated by numerous scientific studies conducted in recent years.

Its remarkable value was first highlighted by Ancel Keys, a Harvard physician who observed a close relationship between fat consumption and the incidence of coronary heart disease in several countries, the latter being the greater the higher the fat intake . The exception was found only in the Mediterranean basin which, despite having a high fat intake, suffered relatively few myocardial infarctions. There was a big difference in the type of fat consumed, which in the Mediterranean was mostly monounsaturated fat.

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In the Mediterranean diet regular consumption of whole grains may contribute to the reduction of factors related to chronic diseases.

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Mediterranean Diet Has Huge Health Benefits, New Study Finds | The New York Times

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TimesCast: The Times's Gina Kolata talks about a new study, published on The New England Journal of Medicine's Web site, focusing on the health benefits of a Mediterranean diet.