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Mediterranean Diet: Health, Environment, Culture, Sustainability
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Mediterranean Diet: Health, Environment, Culture, Sustainability

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2021) | Viewed by 38718

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. F. Xavier Medina

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Food and Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), 08035 Barcelona, Spain
Interests: anthropology of food; food studies; food sustainability; mediterranean cultures; mediterranean diet
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The concept of the "Mediterranean Diet” (MD) has undergone a particular and progressive transformation over the last several decades. The MD was created and conceptualized at the beginning of the second half of the 20th century as a healthy dietary pattern. 

However, the concept has evolved to become a sustainable dietary pattern, within which the DM has been considered within the category of "sustainable diets”. Since then, it has undergone various modifications that have led it from being a concept linked solely to health, to an element of culture and a lifestyle, as a result of its declaration as intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2010 (and its extension in 2013). This evolution of the concept has been developed for more than half a century, and actually involves different perspectives and disciplines: health, nutrition, food studies, cultures, heritage, environment, etc. Since that point, the Mediterranean Diet has adopted a new path (guided by the FAO) as a sustainable diet, focusing on sustainability and locality as the cornerstones of its new identity.

This Special Issue is on the broad topic of “Mediterranean Diet: Health, Environment, Culture, Sustainability”. Although we welcome papers discussing any aspect of the Mediterranean Diet, we particularly encourage papers that focus on furthering the following topics:

- Mediterranean Diet: New health perspectives in a global context;

- Mediterranean Diet: Environmental aspects and sustainability;

- Mediterranean Diet in the framework of sustainable diets, and/or in comparison with other sustainable diets;

- Mediterranean Diet, cultures, societies, and heritages;

- Mediterranean Diet as a touristic attraction;

- Mediterranean Diet, consumption, and locality: New challenges for production and consumption?

- Mediterranean Diet, food habits, and changing lifestyles.

We invite papers about all of the above topics, as well as other topics of relevance to this Issue.

Prof. Dr. F. Xavier Medina
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Mediterranean Diet
  • Food consumption and eating patterns
  • Dietary pattern analysis
  • Culture and heritage
  • Nutrition
  • Food production
  • Sustainability
  • Locality
  • Globalization
  • Food environment
  • Food systems
  • Healthy sustainable eating

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Editorial

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5 pages, 269 KiB  
Editorial
Mediterranean Diet: The Need for Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives
by F. Xavier Medina
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(11), 5687; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18115687 - 26 May 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2527
Abstract
The notion of the Mediterranean diet has progressively evolved over the past half a century, from a healthy (coronary) dietary pattern to a model of sustainable diet [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mediterranean Diet: Health, Environment, Culture, Sustainability)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Other

11 pages, 2401 KiB  
Article
Impact of Olive Oil Supplement Intake on Dendritic Cell Maturation after Strenuous Physical Exercise: A Preliminary Study
by Laura Esquius, Casimiro Javierre, Inés Llaudó, Inés Rama, Guillermo R. Oviedo, Marta Massip-Salcedo, Alicia Aguilar-Martínez, Oscar Niño and Núria Lloberas
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(8), 4128; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18084128 - 14 Apr 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2999
Abstract
Physical exercise is known to have a dose-dependent effect on the immune system and can result in an inflammatory process in athletes that is proportional to the intensity and duration of exertion. This inflammatory process can be measured by cell markers such as [...] Read more.
Physical exercise is known to have a dose-dependent effect on the immune system and can result in an inflammatory process in athletes that is proportional to the intensity and duration of exertion. This inflammatory process can be measured by cell markers such as dendritic cells (DCs), which, in humans, consist of the myeloid DC (mDCs) and plasmacytoid DC (pDCs) subpopulations. The aim of this study was to measure DC differentiation to determine the possible anti-inflammatory effects, after intense aerobic effort, of the intake of a 25 mL extra-virgin olive oil supplement. Three healthy sports-trained subjects went through resistance exercise loads on two days separated by a week: on one day after active supplement intake and on the other day after placebo supplement intake. The results show that the highest increase (77%) in the percentage of mDCs as a proportion of pDCs was immediately after testing. Independently of the supplement taken, mature mDCs showed a decreasing trend between the test one hour after and 24 h after testing ended. Nevertheless, measured in terms of the coefficient of variation, only the decrease (46%) for extra-virgin olive oil supplementation was statistically significant (95% CI: 30–62%; p = 0.05). In conclusion, an extra-virgin olive oil supplement could reduce the inflammatory impact of intense aerobic effort and improve recovery at 24 h. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mediterranean Diet: Health, Environment, Culture, Sustainability)
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16 pages, 588 KiB  
Article
Family Meals, Conviviality, and the Mediterranean Diet among Families with Adolescents
by Andrea de la Torre-Moral, Sergi Fàbregues, Anna Bach-Faig, Albert Fornieles-Deu, F. Xavier Medina, Alicia Aguilar-Martínez and David Sánchez-Carracedo
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(5), 2499; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052499 - 3 Mar 2021
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 12143
Abstract
Two aspects that characterize the Mediterranean diet (MD) are “what” and “how” we eat. Conviviality relates to “how” we eat and to the pleasure of sharing meals with significant people. The most studied concept is “family meals”, which includes conviviality, which involves “enjoying” [...] Read more.
Two aspects that characterize the Mediterranean diet (MD) are “what” and “how” we eat. Conviviality relates to “how” we eat and to the pleasure of sharing meals with significant people. The most studied concept is “family meals”, which includes conviviality, which involves “enjoying” family meals. Given the lack of research on convivial family meals in Mediterranean countries, the purpose of this qualitative study was to analyze the family meal representations and practices of families with 12- to 16-year-old adolescents to assess whether they responded to a pattern of conviviality, and to examine their association with MD adherence. Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted and food frequency and family meal questionnaires were administered. A food pattern analysis was carried out and digital photos of meals were analyzed to examine eating habits and meal composition, respectively. The findings showed that parents believed family meals are a space for socialization and communication. Items relating to the conviviality of family meals identified in the study were meal frequency, meals at the table, lack of digital distractions, pleasant conversations, and time spent on family meals. Attention should be paid to conviviality in Mediterranean families when designing multi-approach strategies to promote healthy eating among adolescents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mediterranean Diet: Health, Environment, Culture, Sustainability)
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13 pages, 368 KiB  
Article
Well-Being and the Lifestyle Habits of the Spanish Population: The Association between Subjective Well-Being and Eating Habits
by Laura Cabiedes-Miragaya, Cecilia Diaz-Mendez and Isabel García-Espejo
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(4), 1553; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041553 - 6 Feb 2021
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4293
Abstract
The so-called Mediterranean diet is not simply a collection of foodstuffs but an expression of the culture of the countries of the south of Europe, declared Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. Despite the link between food and culture, little has been studied about [...] Read more.
The so-called Mediterranean diet is not simply a collection of foodstuffs but an expression of the culture of the countries of the south of Europe, declared Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. Despite the link between food and culture, little has been studied about how diet contributes to the well-being of the population. This article aims to analyze the association between subjective well-being and the eating habits of the Spanish population in order to gain a better understanding of the subjective well-being that food culture produces. For this study, we used a representative sample of the Spanish adult population from a survey by the Sociological Research Center (CIS 2017). Three indicators of subjective well-being were used: perceived health, life satisfaction, and feeling of happiness. The independent variables relating to eating habits considered in the analysis were, among others, how often meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, and sweets were consumed; how the food was prepared; how often meals were eaten out at restaurants or cafés and how often they were eaten with family or friends. Other independent variables related to lifestyle habits were also included in the analysis, in particular, physical exercise and body mass index. We used ordinal logistic regressions and multiple linear regression models. Our findings coincide in large measure with those obtained in earlier studies where perceived health and income play a key role in evaluating subjective well-being. In turn, several variables related to lifestyle habits, such as consuming sweets and fruits, social interaction around meals, exercising, and body mass index, were also associated with subjective well-being. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mediterranean Diet: Health, Environment, Culture, Sustainability)
21 pages, 728 KiB  
Article
Understanding the Self-Perceived Barriers and Enablers toward Adopting a Mediterranean Diet in Australia: An Application of the Theory of Planned Behaviour Framework
by Nicole Scannell, Anthony Villani, Evangeline Mantzioris and Libby Swanepoel
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(24), 9321; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17249321 - 13 Dec 2020
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 7244
Abstract
The transferability of a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) in non-Mediterranean populations is appealing. However, little is known about the perceived enablers or barriers toward adherence, particularly in Australia. This study aimed to investigate the perceived beliefs, barriers, and enablers toward adherence to a MedDiet [...] Read more.
The transferability of a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) in non-Mediterranean populations is appealing. However, little is known about the perceived enablers or barriers toward adherence, particularly in Australia. This study aimed to investigate the perceived beliefs, barriers, and enablers toward adherence to a MedDiet in Australian adults. Barriers and enablers were assessed using a self-administered online questionnaire, which included questions aligned with the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). The survey was completed by n = 606 participants. Barriers and enablers toward adherence to MedDiet were grouped under the three core constructs of the TPB: attitudes (suitability, taste, restrictive, food waste); social norms (food culture); and perceived behavioural control (PBC) (motivation, affordability, time/effort, food access, knowledge, food outlets, natural conditions, cooking skills). PBC emerged as the most prominent construct influencing intention to follow a MedDiet. Perceived health benefits (n = 445; 76.5%) and improved diet quality (n = 224; 38.5%) were identified as major advantages. In contrast, dietary adherence (n = 147; 39.7%) was perceived as an important disadvantage. Future MedDiet interventions, in both research and clinical settings, should consider adopting strategies aimed at improving self-efficacy to reduce self-perceived barriers and facilitate dietary adherence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mediterranean Diet: Health, Environment, Culture, Sustainability)
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Other

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13 pages, 364 KiB  
Opinion
Unexpected Effects on Some Spanish Cultural Landscapes of the Mediterranean Diet
by Pedro Tomé
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(7), 3829; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18073829 - 6 Apr 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3060
Abstract
The declaration of the Mediterranean Diet as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in order to preserve a cultural and gastronomical legacy included the protection of lifestyles, knowledge, sociability, and environmental relationships. However, the patrimonialization, popularization, and globalization of a certain conception of this [...] Read more.
The declaration of the Mediterranean Diet as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in order to preserve a cultural and gastronomical legacy included the protection of lifestyles, knowledge, sociability, and environmental relationships. However, the patrimonialization, popularization, and globalization of a certain conception of this diet have turned it into a de-territorialized global phenomenon. As a consequence of this process, it has been necessary to notably increase the production of its ingredients to satisfy its growing demand, which, in turn, has generated “secondary effects” in some Mediterranean environments of Southeastern Spain. If, on the one hand, their wealth has increased and population has been established, on the other hand, the continuity of certain cultural landscapes linked to local knowledge and particular lifestyles has been broken, replacing them with agro-industrial landscapes exclusively at the service of production. This, at the same time, has caused social and environmental inequalities Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mediterranean Diet: Health, Environment, Culture, Sustainability)
9 pages, 348 KiB  
Opinion
Obesity, Mediterranean Diet, and Public Health: A Vision of Obesity in the Mediterranean Context from a Sociocultural Perspective
by Francesc Xavier Medina, Josep M. Solé-Sedeno, Anna Bach-Faig and Alicia Aguilar-Martínez
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(7), 3715; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18073715 - 2 Apr 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5172
Abstract
Obesity is a disease that straddles medico-nutritional, psychological, and socio-cultural boundaries. There is a clear relationship between lifestyle and obesity, and today the Mediterranean diet in the Mediterranean area may represent an interesting corrective asset. However, we should not be under any misapprehension [...] Read more.
Obesity is a disease that straddles medico-nutritional, psychological, and socio-cultural boundaries. There is a clear relationship between lifestyle and obesity, and today the Mediterranean diet in the Mediterranean area may represent an interesting corrective asset. However, we should not be under any misapprehension about the model’s capacity for action in non-nutritional terms. Our societies are experiencing a process of rapid change, and the Mediterranean area is no exception. The aim of this article is to present a view of obesity in the Mediterranean context from an open, mainly socio-cultural perspective, but from different points of view (medical, nutritional), seeking points of convergence and elements that contribute to the understanding of and approach to the disease in the context of the Mediterranean diet. As a public health and a multidimensional social problem, obesity must be dealt with in a holistic, open, and cross-disciplinary manner to ensure that it can be understood coherently. The only way to keep the usefulness of the Mediterranean diet within desirable limits will be our societies’ vitality and interest in rapidly adapting the Mediterranean diet to social change, thus providing valid answers to today’s needs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mediterranean Diet: Health, Environment, Culture, Sustainability)
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