Schillaci: “Mediterranean diet, Italian excellence and prevention tool”

“Today we celebrate the first National Made in Italy Day, strongly desired by this Government, and as the Ministry of Health we have decided to dedicate an event to the Mediterranean diet because it is an Italian excellence and is a factor in promoting health and correct lifestyles. We have chosen to promote this initiative in Cilento where the American scholar Ancel Keys theorized and valorized the benefits of the Mediterranean diet on health”. This was said by the Minister of Health, Orazio Schillaci, who this morning visited the Living Museum of the Mediterranean Diet in Pioppi, in the province of Salerno, on the occasion of the first National Made in Italy Day. During the visit to the museum, the Minister of Health, together with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Edmondo Cirielli and the mayor of Pollica, Stefano Pisani, met elementary school and middle school students who presented works created on the Mediterranean diet.

“We must learn as children – underlined Schillaci – that eating correctly and healthily means improving our health. This is why I am committed to ensuring that prevention, starting from healthy eating and physical activity, finds adequate space in schools Today in Pioppi and Paestum we celebrate the Mediterranean diet, based on our local productions, which has the ability, as demonstrated by numerous scientific studies, to help prevent many chronic non-communicable diseases. The Mediterranean diet is part of our cultural heritage and we must ensure that more and more Italians adhere to this healthy eating model, which safeguards biodiversity and is economically sustainable”.

The Ministry of Health, again as part of Made in Italy Day, has created together with the Fism (Italian Federation of Medical and Scientific Societies) a guide with indications for following a correct and healthy diet according to the principles of the Mediterranean diet, with a specific focus on children and the elderly. The beneficial impact on health of the Mediterranean diet is also at the center of the event promoted by the ministry at the archaeological park of Paestum and Velia.

The contribution of experts from the scientific and academic world is significant, supporting the importance of the impact of correct lifestyles on prevention. Also participating in the day is chef Alessandro Circiello, president of the Lazio regional chefs' union, author of a menu based on the five colors of the Mediterranean diet to demonstrate how you can eat healthily without giving up taste. In recognition of the contribution to the studies that have made it possible to raise awareness of the value of the Mediterranean diet for health on a scientific basis, Schillaci presented a certificate to the Keys family and to the Ancel Keys Mediterranean diet association.