Mediterranean diet
Discussion
We've all read about the Mediterranean diet and its benefits, including longer life. I've just returned from a 10-day exploration of the dietary habits of Italians along the Amalfi coast.
The Maitre d' was a friendly chap and a discussion of the menu - I had 13 different types of pasta during the period - turned into a healthy eating discourse. He, oddly enough it seemed to me, was more or less dismissive of the claim of food being the main source of long life, suggesting that it was impossible to isolate one aspect of those who live in an area and suggest that there was just one cause.
He put it down to lifestyle.
He reckoned that the mild climate (31 deg during the day, 24 during the night on one memorable occasion, this in September) forced the population to take things easy.
It was noticeable that the bus drivers - these were Italians remember - did not get upset, did not sound their horns, did not gesticulate wildly when held up by selfish driving habits of visitors. They just sat there and waited for things to become clear. The local passengers would carry on chatting. Once there was room to move, the driver would wave through a number of the cars that had built up behind his bus (just as any British bus driver would of course).
The MD, in a dig about the brexit vote I think, reckoned that 'you', meaning the British, think that a lot of effort and risk is worthwhile for what might be a slight advantage. He shrugged as he said it.
There was one embarrassing moment when an English couple, I won't say where from apart from just outside London, to the east, and above the Thames, took a waiter to task in a lovely cafe in Amalfi when he said that they would not make French fries, despite it being on the menu, as no one else wanted them at 2pm.
The couple were angry and stomped off. The waiter didn't even bother to shrug.
I think the MD got it right. I saw no one get upset at petty things. He said that the locals were generally poor but had more time to enjoy their money.
On the plane home I inadvertently reclined the backrest, and at some speed. I apologised to the chap behind me - he was reading a magazine - who was Italian. He smiled away my apology and, after a prego, we had a little chat about F1. I'd scared him and we were friends.
I've been to north Italy and they are not quite so horizontal. I wonder what their life expectancy is.
It's my wedding anniversary today and I'm taking my wife out to a local Italian restaurant. I hope it extends my life, but if not, then it will still be tasty.
The Maitre d' was a friendly chap and a discussion of the menu - I had 13 different types of pasta during the period - turned into a healthy eating discourse. He, oddly enough it seemed to me, was more or less dismissive of the claim of food being the main source of long life, suggesting that it was impossible to isolate one aspect of those who live in an area and suggest that there was just one cause.
He put it down to lifestyle.
He reckoned that the mild climate (31 deg during the day, 24 during the night on one memorable occasion, this in September) forced the population to take things easy.
It was noticeable that the bus drivers - these were Italians remember - did not get upset, did not sound their horns, did not gesticulate wildly when held up by selfish driving habits of visitors. They just sat there and waited for things to become clear. The local passengers would carry on chatting. Once there was room to move, the driver would wave through a number of the cars that had built up behind his bus (just as any British bus driver would of course).
The MD, in a dig about the brexit vote I think, reckoned that 'you', meaning the British, think that a lot of effort and risk is worthwhile for what might be a slight advantage. He shrugged as he said it.
There was one embarrassing moment when an English couple, I won't say where from apart from just outside London, to the east, and above the Thames, took a waiter to task in a lovely cafe in Amalfi when he said that they would not make French fries, despite it being on the menu, as no one else wanted them at 2pm.
The couple were angry and stomped off. The waiter didn't even bother to shrug.
I think the MD got it right. I saw no one get upset at petty things. He said that the locals were generally poor but had more time to enjoy their money.
On the plane home I inadvertently reclined the backrest, and at some speed. I apologised to the chap behind me - he was reading a magazine - who was Italian. He smiled away my apology and, after a prego, we had a little chat about F1. I'd scared him and we were friends.
I've been to north Italy and they are not quite so horizontal. I wonder what their life expectancy is.
It's my wedding anniversary today and I'm taking my wife out to a local Italian restaurant. I hope it extends my life, but if not, then it will still be tasty.
I have been to Sardinia twice, I am always astounded as to how laid back the Sardinians are, they just seem so chilled and just do not get upset or stressed about anything.
Take parking; like the rest of Italy, it is crap, they just abandon their cars anywhere and wander off without even a backwards glance, that sort of thing would get people over her in the UK apoplectic with rage, in Sardinia the person parking doesn't care and neither does anyone else, they just get on with their day.
It is the same with driving, it is a bit chaotic but I don't recall hearing any tooting of a horn, they just get on with it.
We are far too stressed over here about the most minor things.
The food is great though, however it gave me chronic indigestion; all that cheese, meat and bread, I was glad to get back home.
Take parking; like the rest of Italy, it is crap, they just abandon their cars anywhere and wander off without even a backwards glance, that sort of thing would get people over her in the UK apoplectic with rage, in Sardinia the person parking doesn't care and neither does anyone else, they just get on with their day.
It is the same with driving, it is a bit chaotic but I don't recall hearing any tooting of a horn, they just get on with it.
We are far too stressed over here about the most minor things.
The food is great though, however it gave me chronic indigestion; all that cheese, meat and bread, I was glad to get back home.
I have been to Italy before before only to major cities on business. This year we spent a week in Tuscany and I began to understand how well off they have been/are. Everywhere I looked I could see either cultivated fields or forest. The land must he highly productive with their climate conditions. Every town seemed to have some light industrial activity. No-one in a rush and loads of healthy stuff to eat!
Thankyou4calling said:
From what i can see there isn't much difference in life expectancy between the UK and Italy though.
It seems Sardinia as an example has a high number of people living to 100 yet the AVERAGE is 81, so from that i'd deduce a lot are dying in their 60's.
A high number of smokers too.
God yes, I remarked to the wife when out there, "I wonder what the skin cancer rates are like out here"; lots of sun and all out on the beach, she replied with "sod skin cancer, I should imagine the vast majority get lung cancer with the amount that they smoke"It seems Sardinia as an example has a high number of people living to 100 yet the AVERAGE is 81, so from that i'd deduce a lot are dying in their 60's.
A high number of smokers too.
Thankyou4calling said:
From what i can see there isn't much difference in life expectancy between the UK and Italy though.
It seems Sardinia as an example has a high number of people living to 100 yet the AVERAGE is 81, so from that i'd deduce a lot are dying in their 60's.
A high number of smokers too.
I think the advantage of the MD is measured in lower heart disease and other cancers. It is balanced by taking out the effects of smoking. It seems Sardinia as an example has a high number of people living to 100 yet the AVERAGE is 81, so from that i'd deduce a lot are dying in their 60's.
A high number of smokers too.
It's advantages are specific.
Surely it's about eating whole foods rather the the processed/refined/manufactured food-like substances that proliferate on our supermarket shelves? Whether it's a Mediterranean Diet or simply any whole-foods, plant-based diet you'll do better than someone that consumes stuff out of packets and boxes.
LordGrover said:
Surely it's about eating whole foods rather the the processed/refined/manufactured food-like substances that proliferate on our supermarket shelves? Whether it's a Mediterranean Diet or simply any whole-foods, plant-based diet you'll do better than someone that consumes stuff out of packets and boxes.
Like cigarettes?Hoofy said:
Like cigarettes?
....and white bread and pasta (made from refined flour) and all that processed meat in the form of cured hams and salamis. Could put it down to olive oil, tomatoes and fresh veg. Plus a benign, warm climate.
Can't see the laid back-ness either. I have found Italians from north to South immensely stressy and vocal about he tiniest things. Working with some of them, they are the most difficult to deal with as they want to do stuff in a complicated stretched out way. Though having the whole of August off work must have health benefits and chill you out.
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