HEALTH: the Mediterranean diet reduces 30% the risk of depression

The first scientific evidence recognizing the Mediterranean diet 30% reduction of the risk of depression is the confirm of the importance of food. This plays a key-role in the induction of mood and happiness characterizing the Mediterranean peoples more than the Northern ones. This is what Coldiretti has underlined explaining that people following the Mediterranean diet are 30 % less vulnerable to depression than others, according to a study realized on over 10 thousand people and published in the magazine “Archives of General Psychiatry” (Jama) and built by a group of Spanish researchers of Las Palmas University (Canarie) and of Navara and Pamplona Universities. The Mediterranean diet has proved more effective than other variables such as the number of children, lifestyle or anxious or competitive characters, according to this study lasting a six-year-period. The fats contained in the olive oil seem to have a very positive role, not to be found in other kinds of dietary habits, the positive effect on our mood joins the one on health, Coldiretti underlines as some recent studies published in the “British Medical Journal” show, according to which the Mediterranean diet reduces 13 % the incidence of Parkinson and Alzheimer, 9% the risk of cardiovascular diseases and 6% the risk of cancer. Bread, pasta, fruit, vegetables, extra virgin olive oil and the traditional glass of wine, consumed while eating regular meals, have allowed the Italians to reach the record of longevity with an average life of 78,6% years for men and 84,1 years for women, neatly superior to the European rate. The new scientific confirm is a further support to the call to Unesco for a recognition of the Mediterranean diet as Heritage to be kept; on request of Italy, Spain, Greece and Morocco with the support of EU. This study concludes:” this target has a huge value for Italy, the country which is the symbol of this kind of food, and where there are the roots of the culture of the Mediterranean diet with its records achieved in the main productions like fruit, vegetables, wine and pasta; besides Italy gathers the top-production of olive oil after Spain, among the countries of the EU”.