Rena Kosti

Dr Rena I.  Kosti is a Professor of “Human Nutrition -Epidemiology” and Vice-President of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Thessaly. She holds an M.Sc. degree in “Food and Agricultural Biotechnology”, University of Reading and a PhD degree in “Nutritional Epidemiology”, Agricultural University of Athens. She has a long international career in multinational companies in Nutrition products in which she held a scientific managerial position. She was a Scientific expert in Organic Farming and Nutrition at the National Center for the Environment & Sustainable Development (NCESD) and member of the scientific writing team of the general and special National nutritional guides “EY Dia…trofin” of the Ministry of Health. She is a Scientific Associate of the Hellenic Health Foundation. She has numerous scientific papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals, author and co-author of Greek and foreign books, member of the editorial board and reviewer in numerous scientific journals, and research proposals for institutions such as the Ministry of Health of Israel and the European Commission. In 2019, she was elected President of the “Consumption, Nutrition and Health” expert group of the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV) in Dijon. She is a member of its Scientific and Technical Committee as the scientific representative of Greece, a position she still holds today.

The beneficial effects of the Traditional Mediterranean diet (TMD) on the prevalence of NCDs have been extensively documented. Mediterranean diet is a generic term based on the traditional eating habits in the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, representing rather a lifestyle than a diet. While each country contributes its unique flavors and ingredients, common principles such as an emphasis on fresh, whole foods and healthy fats unite these diets. The TMD is a highly diversified heritage reproduced in many social and cultural contexts of the Mediterranean region. Research has shown that the whole pattern of TMD is more important than any specific component, concluding that the health benefits go well beyond its individual nutrients. Thus, the challenge is to reinvent the values of the past, which have to be incorporated in the present and future generations.

The aim of the present study was to highlight the hidden neglected values of the components of the TMD as lifestyle beyond diet. The findings of the literature search revealed that the core philosophy of the TMD was based on three pillars: being in touch with nature, connected to natural rhythms and connected to humans. Thus, food in the TMD was not just a simple act of nourishment, but rather emphasized the harmonized human –nature relationship. In conclusion it seems that beyond the environmental dimension of the TDM, the social dimension through collectivism and the personal dimension through mindfulness lead to moderation as being the hidden hyper-value of TMD pattern.