The Ketogenic Mediterranean Diet Genomic Determinants of Mediterranean Diet Success

The Mediterranean diet is frequently considered a nutritional “elixir” that reduces risk factors associated with disease. Hitherto, there has been a great deal of ambiguity about the evidence supporting the concept of the Mediterranean diet, and there have been many unfounded myths associated with its composition and the therapeutic effectiveness of adopting such a dietary regimen. However, the past few decades have seen major advances in the understanding of the Mediterranean diet and its application. Unfortunately, details of the Mediterranean diet are fragmentary or unfocused with little attention to its composition, ethos, and potential applications. These limitations have been succinctly addressed in The Mediterranean Diet: An Evidence-Based Approach. This book is an authoritative synopsis of many of the complex features of the Mediterranean diet, ranging from its his- torical basis, supportive evidence and epidemiological studies, to the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic and other properties of individual components. This book embraces a holistic approach and effectively investigates the Med- iterranean diet from the cell level to the nutritional well-being of geographical populations. The book is divided into 4 sections: Section 1: The Mediterranean Diet: Concepts and General Aspects Section 2: Components of the Mediterranean Diet Section 3: Health and Nutritional Aspects of the Mediterranean Diet Section 4: Novel Nutraceuticals and Edible Plants Used in the Mediterranean Region Section 1 begins with material on the Mediterranean diet with respect to origins and evolution, nutritional adequacy, agricultural practices, sustainability, mortality, quality of life, children and adolescents, cognitive health, cardiovascular diseases, genomics, diet quality, nutritional knowledge and socio-economic features. There follows in Section 2 coverage of olive oil, wine, beer, fish, nuts, minerals, melatonin, hydroxytyrosol and frying. Section 3 has material on metabolism, metabolic syndrome, obesity and diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, brain and behavior, immunology, life stages, organs and applications, adverse aspects, and methods for interventions with, or adherence to, the Mediterranean diet. Finally, Section 4 deals with genetic diversity of plants, apoptotic activities of plant species, hawthorn fruit, figs, Cupressus sempervirens and essential oils. Contributors are authors of international and national standing, leaders in the field and trendsetters. Emerging fields of the Mediterranean Diet science and important discoveries relating to diet and nutrition are included here. This book rep- resents essential reading for nutritionists, dieticians, health care professionals, research scientists, biochemists, physicians, general practitioners, and public health practitioners, as well as those interested in health in general.