Mediterranean diet keeps people 'genetically young'

Spain's obesity index above European average, below UK and Ireland

SPAIN -- According to a report on research in the US, on BBC News Online by Health Editor Michelle Roberts, following a Mediterranean diet might be a recipe for a long life because it appears to keep people genetically younger. Several years ago, this diet was preponderant in Spain and, of course, other Mediterranean countries, including Southern France, Italy to a certain extent and in Greece. Since then the intrusion of fast food, mainly in the shape of US franchises (McDonalds, Burger King, etc. etc.) has caused an alarming increase in obesity in this country. The latest reliable figures (May 2014) show that over 24% of the population is considered obese, or just under the indicators, that is, well above the average levels for Western Europe (18.5%), or with France (15.6%), Italy (17.2%), Greece (17.5%), Germany (21.3%) or Portugal (21,6%). However, both the UK and Ireland, are above the European average at 24.9 and 24.5% respectively.

The Mediterranean diet, which is basically a healthy mixture of vegetables, olive oil, fresh fish and fruits may stop our DNA code from scrambling with age, according to a study in the British Medical Journal. The study followed some 5,000 nurses in the Boston area for over ten years; those who adhered to the diet showed fewer signs of ageing in their cells.

Over the years, the Mediterranean diet has often been linked to health gains, including cutting the risk of heart disease. The same has applied, for example, to a reduction in consumption of processed meats, and an increase in the use of blue fish in the kitchen (providing Omega-3 fatty acid).

There are two principal reasons for the escalation in  obesity: one, is the 'hurry-hurry' attitude with working populations making the Mediterranean diet sometimes too slow to prepare; and, two, is that the Mediterranean diet can be comparatively expensive, specially at a time of financial insecurity.

However, many of the fast food chains have been changing, or have already changed, some options on their menus. Mcdonalds offers a larger selection of fishburgers, for example, and they are all trying to appear more healthy than they have been in the past but they are still no replacement for the good old Mediterranean diet.

(Original source: BBC News)