Greece No Longer a Mecca of Good Health

[zefs]

Greece No Longer a Mecca of Good Health

By Darya Pino
Science Editor


The Mediterranean diet continues to receive accolades from the scientific community for improving health and lowering risk of disease. But that does not mean you missed out if you chose a trip to Guatemala over Greece this past summer. A recent article in the New York Times explains that Crete, an island in Greece considered to be the birthplace of the Mediterranean diet, has all but abandoned its once exemplary eating habits for a lifestyle more like our own. Now soda, fast food and convenience stores are the norm, and these changes are taking a toll on the health of Crete’s residents.


Traditionally the people of Greece have boasted some of the world’s longest life expectancies. Now the country has the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity in Europe, affecting three-quarters of its population. In Crete, even elementary schools are battling diet-related, chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol. Sadly, life spans are expected to decline dramatically for the coming generation unless something is done to reverse these trends.


According to the article, Greek epidemiologists blame the recent proliferation of large grocery stores and convenience foods for the change in habits. They also credit aggressive advertising campaigns by the food industry that target children. Indeed children seem to be the hardest hit by the shifting culture. The impact this will have on the long-term health of Greece’s youth is still unknown.


While some parents are beginning to take action against these trends, many are still reluctant to acknowledge the problem. Because of Crete’s history of poverty, pre-made convenience foods are considered a luxury they want their children to be able to enjoy. One Crete resident, Argyro Koromylla explains, “You don’t want your child complaining or feeling left out, so you give him what he wants.”


Greece’s current obesity epidemic is representative of a much broader pattern of global health problems associated with the popularization of the Western diet. While fingers have been pointed at different components of our food—fat, cholesterol, carbohydrates—as the primary culprit, the emerging view is that the changing levels of macronutrients are less the problem than the industrial processing of food in general.


Journalist and UC Berkeley professor Michael Pollan argues the case for abandoning refined, processed food for more traditional cuisines in his latest book In Defense of Food. In a chapter titled Escape from the Western Diet, he states, “Instead of worrying about nutrients, we should simply avoid any food that has been processed to an extent that it is more the product of industry than of nature.”


The basis of Pollan’s proposal is that we know humans can thrive under a wide array of traditional diets, ranging from very high fat to very high carbohydrate to very high protein. But invariably, the health of a culture begins to decline upon the introduction of processed foods.


Indeed, Greece’s own cuisine seems to be in danger of losing its traditional roots, and the potential health ramifications are immense. Yet it does appear that Pollan’s argument is not lost on all Crete residents, and an effective intervention may still be possible. As one parent observes, “If we continue like this, we’re going to become like Americans, and no one wants that.”
phantis.com

[Boreas]

This is a potentially serious problem that needs to be addressed immediately. It's a shame that the Greeks are neglecting their healthy traditional diet in favor of Western-style junk food. Other countries, like the US and Germany, have been fighting obesity for a long time. Fortunately, this is a relatively new problem for Greece and it has been identified early so there is still time to do something before it gets out of control.

Here is a good book about the health benefits of the traditional Greek diet and how to translate the basic principles to fit the necessities of the modern urban lifestyle...

The Omega Diet

http://www.amazon.com/Omega-Diet-Lifesaving-Nutrit...
http://www.amazon.com/Omega-Diet-Lifesaving-Nutrit...

[Theofilos]

Mm, would be a shame to lose even more traditions to Western hegemony, or whatever you want to call it.

[PhiliptheUniterchaeronea]

We are the West in many ways, but yes, I agree. I am quite distured. This is bad, really,really bad.

[Boreas]

Here's an excellent website all about traditional Greek cooking...

http://www.greek-recipe.com

From the above site:

"The reliance of the west upon processed food, food with added preservatives and other chemicals, dairy products, animal fats and excessive quantities of meat, have shown in their different ways to be responsible for specific digestive and circulatory disorders. Greek Cookery, as well as being delicious, is one of the healthiest, as it never employs processed and canned foods, relies enormously on seasonal vegetables and on pulses. It does not make use of animal fats, but on the best olive oil. And while it uses limited quantities of meat, it relies more on fish and enormous quantities of fresh vegetables and salads. The way the vegetables are cooked is also more nutritious. They are almost never boiled - which destroys their best nutritives qualities - but are cooked in very little water with olive oil and various sauces. The greek treatment of vegetables is altogether different and it produces exciting and delicious wholly vegetarian dishes. For the health-food-oriented, the vegetarian, or those simply concerned to eat more healthily, this the moment to discover the joys of the Cooking of Greece."

Here are a couple more websites packed with recipes and information...

http://greekfood.about.com

http://www.greekcuisine.com

Dont forget to exercise daily and... Καλή Όρεξη!

[Cadmus]

Originally Posted by Boreas

Here's an excellent website all about traditional Greek cooking...

http://www.greek-recipe.com

From the above site:

"The reliance of the west upon processed food, food with added preservatives and other chemicals, dairy products, animal fats and excessive quantities of meat, have shown in their different ways to be responsible for specific digestive and circulatory disorders. Greek Cookery, as well as being delicious, is one of the healthiest, as it never employs processed and canned foods, relies enormously on seasonal vegetables and on pulses. It does not make use of animal fats, but on the best olive oil. And while it uses limited quantities of meat, it relies more on fish and enormous quantities of fresh vegetables and salads. The way the vegetables are cooked is also more nutritious. They are almost never boiled - which destroys their best nutritives qualities - but are cooked in very little water with olive oil and various sauces. The greek treatment of vegetables is altogether different and it produces exciting and delicious wholly vegetarian dishes. For the health-food-oriented, the vegetarian, or those simply concerned to eat more healthily, this the moment to discover the joys of the Cooking of Greece."

Here are a couple more websites packed with recipes and information...

http://greekfood.about.com

http://www.greekcuisine.com

Dont forget to exercise daily and... Καλή Όρεξη!

Yummie!

You guys also fond of paprika's with cheese (goat) and tomato's! All fresh..it doesnt sounds that interesting but even the best chef's say and admit the the freshest the ingredients the better the meal..no additives, no color products no chemical junk just pure nature..Here in Holland we dont have that freshness, it all comes from the pack or land but its bombarded with chemicals to have max profit and it endures the quality...bliahh i want mother natures products atraight from the land...

[pankration]

If you want to shock the Greeks....show them tapes from New Orleans and other parts of the south after Hurricane Katrina. Poor, destitute people who AVERAGE over 100 pounds overweight. Sad, disgusting, scary. Is this what Greece wants? I myself am overweight and every time I go to Europe I lose weight. Last year in Greece I lost 10 pounds in ten days and I ate to my heart's content but I avoided any semblance of fast food. Greeks know how to eat: why are they copying North Americans?