The FastDay Forum

For clarity, I'm not referring to apocryphal n=1 experiences (including my own of Spanish supermarkets laden with meat and cheese).

A group of Greek scientists reviewed current (2002) eating habits in several Med countries and compared with the "original" Med diet (from the Seven Countries Study of Keys) in http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12373619 concludign that "Significant differences from the originally described Mediterranean diet are documented in most Mediterranean countries, showing a Westernization of the dietary habits". See table at bottom.

Quantities from Keys original were reported in the above as
Fruit - 460g/day
Meat - 35g per day
Cheese - 13g per day
Bread - 380g per day

Trichopoulou in http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9420448 says "The term Mediterranean diet refers to dietary patterns found in olive-growing areas of the Mediterranean region and described in the 1960s and beyond. There are several variants of the Mediterranean diet, but some common components can be identified: high monounsaturated/saturated fat ratio; ethanol consumption at moderate levels and mainly in the form of wine; high consumption of vegetables, fruits, legumes, and grains; moderate consumption of milk and dairy products, mostly in the form of cheese; and low consumption of meat and meat products" and in a survey reported at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8404791 "the proportion of energy derived from proteins is about 19%, from carbohydrates is about 37% and from fats is about 44%; and (iv) the P/S ratio is approximately 1:4 whereas the M/S ratio is approximately 1:1, although the latter ratio may be underestimated. It is concluded that low total fat intake is not a characteristic of the Greek diet and cannot explain the apparently health-promoting consequences of this diet."

Right click and View Image to see full table :-

Although I don't like her, I will say that Mrs Trichopoulou's study is the most accurate.

I must add that there is a difference between the Med diet and the Med way of eating (at least in Greece) and that the WoE of the Mediterranean in the old days was similar to the one that is observed after the 60s although in some cases the diet of the 60s was influenced by poverty.

Well I was going to say lots of tomatoes oil and fish, but I think you need a bigger brain than mine!

<<low total fat intake is not a characteristic of the Greek diet>>

Yes but the main fat that is consumed is olive oil and it's usually raw which is quite better than saturated fats.

Bob: lots of veggies, oil and fish where it is available.

Yes but the main fat that is consumed is olive oil and it's usually raw which is quite better than saturated fats.

Yep, the Greek diet excels in the ratio of plant to animal fats. Bit of an outlier in fact. http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v56/ ... 01413a.pdf

Does this result in extraordinarily low heart disease ?

Apparently, until the last decade, people were very healthy and were living till over 100 years old. This has changed significantly when Greeks started following the western WoE, not to mention the addition of air pollution and stress.

If you go to cemeteries in smaller areas (villages, islands) you will see that before the 00's people were dying very, very old. You would see only 2 or 3 young ones who died in car crashes or other accidents.
Still, the generations that are already old have a higher life expectancy (my grand-mother is 85 and most of her family died over 80-years old and quite healthy) than we (I'm 38) or our parents do.

"Comparing 10-year CVD mortality rates
in men and women from Greece, Sweden and Spain. As
we can see, the national rate is higher in Greece
than that in Sweden and Spain" http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17489342 (2007)

Looking at the original seven countries stuff we should be following what the Japanese eat, as they were the best in terms of heart disease.

Have you seen what the Japanese eat for breakfast? YIKES!

But, yes. Sadly, Greeks are dying younger. Stress and bad eating habits are not good for us.