THE BENEFITS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET ARE WELL KNOWN. NOW, AN INTERNATIONAL STUDY BY HARVARD RESEARCHERS, PUBLISHED IN THE "BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL" CALLS IT THE "ELIXIR OF LONGEVITY" BECAUSE IT INFLUENCES AGEING CHROMOSOMES

It is general knowledge that the Mediterranean diet is one of the best diets in the world, which has been widely demonstrated by many studies that focus on its nutritional benefits and it is also a Unesco Intangible Heritage of Humanity. For the first time, however, an international research calls it an "elixir of longevity".
According to a study conducted in the Brigham & Women Hospital in Boston by Harvard researchers who examined 4.676 women and published their study in the "British Medical Journal", the diet influences the activity of telomerase, the enzyme that prevents the shortening of telomeres, the ends of chromosomes associated with our longevity.

“The meta-analysis (1966-2008) of all studies on the relationship between the Mediterranean diet, chronic diseases and mortality”, explained Pietro Migliaccio, nutritionist and president of Sisa-Italian Society of Food Science, “has shown a strong correlation between this type of diet and health improvement. In particular, the Mediterranean diet has determined 9% reduction in mortality from cardiovascular disease, 6% reduction in tumors and has reduced the incidence of Parkinson's and Alzheimer 's by 13%.
The studies carried out by researchers from Harvard and published in the 'British Medical Journal'”, he said, “have shown, moreover, that the Mediterranean diet helps maintain the length of telomeres and prevents them , therefore, from shortening and fraying. Telomeres are segments of our chromosomes that regulate the aging process; over the years they tend to shorten and this coincides with our aging process. Smoking, a sedentary lifestyle and obesity are all factors that favor the shortening of telomeres, while the Mediterranean diet protects the health and life of cells throughout the body, counteracts the shortening of telomeres and thus increases longevity.
So these studies”, added Migliaccio, “confirm that typical foods in the Mediterranean diet such as pasta, bread, vegetables, extra virgin olive oil, fish, fruits and vegetables are the foundation of our health and longevity. The Mediterranean diet provides a considerable amount of carbohydrates - pasta contains 75% and is therefore one of the principle foods in the Mediterranean Model. It provides clean energy for the health of all our organs and system and also proteins, vitamins, minerals and fiber, all at low cost and respecting the environment. I believe”, concluded the professor, “that studies such as those already carried out and further, more in-depth research, even in fields other than genetics, will demonstrate countless other scientific traits of the Mediterranean diet -not only a longer life but also the relationship with diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's”.