Chapter 21 - Mediterranean Diet Is Beneficial: But, How, and Why?

Abstract

Mediterranean diet characterized by proportionally high consumption of olive oil, legumes, unrefined cereals, fruits, and vegetables, moderate-to-high consumption of fish, moderate consumption of dairy products, moderate wine consumption, and low consumption of nonfish meat products is known to be beneficial in the prevention of metabolic syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, cardio and cerebrovascular diseases including atherosclerosis. But the exact mechanism(s) of the beneficial action of Mediterranean diet is not known. I propose that Mediterranean diet increases the formation of polyunsaturated fatty acids/essential fatty acids endothelial nitric oxide, and augments the production of prostaglandin E1, prostacyclin, lipoxins, resolvins, protectins, and maresins and, thus, brings about its beneficial actions.