Greece is smack dab in the middle of the Mediterranean region
that is famous for its healthy diet. Cuisine rich in omega 3s,
fresh fruit and vegetables is all about supporting optimal heart
health. But now its citizens are ironically dealing with
increased cases of high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart
problems. That’s because, like the U.S., they are also dealing
with the unhealthy creep of soda machines and fast food
restaurants in their neighborhoods. Here’s an interesting and
curious predicament: Greece, Italy, Spain and Morocco have
actually asked UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization) to designate their diet as an
“intangible piece of cultural heritage.” They are actually
worried that their dietary heritage could be near extinction!
“This is a place where you’d see people who lived to 100, where
people were all fit and trim,” Dr. Stagourakis said. “Now you
see kids whose longevity is less than their parents’. That’s
really scaring people.” In Greece, three-quarters