Published date: June 18, 2021
Today is the World Day of Sustainable Gastronomy, declared by the United Nations to underline the importance of an environmentally friendly diet, capable of safeguarding the ecosystem and human health.
For some years now, the topic of food has forcefully entered national and international political agendas. There are many problems to be faced: by 2050, to cope with population growth, food production will have to increase by more than 70%, putting pressure on planetary resources. At the same time, the number of people suffering from food shortages and, on the other hand, those who are overweight and suffer from obesity is worrying. For years, the food system has done nothing but worsen our impact on the planet, leading to enormous waste and exacerbating social inequalities.
With the pandemic and the green revolution, these contradictions are coming to light, and there is an increasing need to revolutionize the way we produce and consume food. From the consumer side, in particular, we hear a lot about sustainable diets. In a previous article, we introduced the world of climatarians, those who intend to fight climate change through their food choices. But what is the most sustainable diet for the planet?
The Mediterranean diet
Always considered a heart-healthy diet, since the 1990s the Mediterranean diet has begun to be taken as an example of a balanced and environmentally sustainable diet. Thanks to the high consumption of vegetables, legumes, fresh and dried fruit, olive oil and cereals, the moderate consumption of fish and dairy products (especially cheese and yogurt) and the even more moderate consumption of meat and sweets, this dietary model can truly be defined as doubly beneficial, for us and for the planet. It is estimated that to obtain 100 calories, the Mediterranean diet causes an environmental impact of about 60% lower than a North American or Northern European diet, which are based to a greater extent on animal fats and meat.
In 2013, the Mediterranean diet became an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, as it can benefit health, while promoting the production of low environmental impact food and the conservation of biodiversity.
In addition to environmental benefits, a sustainable diet like the Mediterranean one brings a series of social and economic benefits. The consumption of local and seasonal products, in fact, contributes to the valorization of companies and territories, preserving the flavors of tradition. Furthermore, the adoption of a healthy eating style leads to the reduction of national medical expenditure: following a balanced diet like the Mediterranean one, in fact, it is possible to maintain one's ideal weight, with lower cardiovascular risks and a reduced mortality of up to 30%.
Is the Mediterranean diet disappearing?
Paradoxically, in Southern Italy, the cradle of the Mediterranean diet, there is a reversal of dietary trends: from a diet based on cereals and plant-based foods, we are moving towards an increasingly "packaged" diet. This has led to an increase in people with obesity problems, now 11% of the population in the southern regions of our peninsula.
Unfortunately, this is a phenomenon that is occurring in all the countries of the Mediterranean area, especially among the youngest. The alarm was raised a few years ago by Joao Breda, head of the European office of the WHO: "The Mediterranean diet for the children of these countries is dead and the closest to the Mediterranean diet are the Swedes".
The advent of sweets and junk food has started a nutritional transition that is distancing the young inhabitants of Mediterranean countries from this extraordinary diet, with the risk of losing an immense social, cultural and environmental heritage. Now more than ever it is important to retrace our steps, trying to rediscover those flavors and that healthy lifestyle that make our territory unique in the world.
Sources:
- https://www.innesti.com/2-equilibri/mediterranean-diet-health-culture-and-sustainability/
- https://biopianeta.it/2018/05/mediterranean-dieta-goodbye-they-only-follow-it-in-svezia/
- https://wonderwhy.it/qual-e-la-dieta-piu-sostenibile-per-noi-e-per-il-pianeta/#:~:text=It is essential to increase the intake of food compared to other foods.
