The Mediterranean Diet : The Key to Preventing Disease and Life Extension?

  



    You might ask so what is so great about the Mediterranean diet? Unlike some, it is more of a lifestyle way of eating instead of just a diet. The Mediterranean diet is characterized by "high consumption of vegetables high in flavonoid content, one of the most important sources of antioxidants in the human diet." (Matalas) "This dietary pattern is characterized by the abundant consumption of olive oil, high consumption of plant foods (fruits, vegetables, pulses, cereals, nuts and seeds); frequent and moderate intake of wine (mainly with meals); moderate consumption of fish, seafood, yogurt, cheese, poultry and eggs; and low consumption of red meat, processed meat products and seeds. " (Casas) It is one of the best diets to raise the Nrf2 which is proposed to be "lifespan and healthspan extending." (Pall) The typical Western diet is lacking in the nutrients that raise the Nrf2. The Mediterranean diet reduces inflammatory markers...the kind that are present in a lot of diseases. For instance, several studies show that it reduces oxidative stress and lowers levels of MCP-1, an inflammatory cytokine.
    So what is MCP-1 or monocyte chemotactic protein? In his overview of the protein, Satish Deshmane describes 'how MCP-1 or CCL2 is produced parallel to the production of oxidative stress or the production of cytokines or growth factors. It can be pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory depending on what cell receptors are available. MCP-1 is a strong attractant of monocytes and regulates the infiltration of memory T cells, lymphocytes and natural killer cells. It is produced in a variety of different cell types including epithelial, endothelial and smooth muscle cells. Several studies have shown that MCP-1 is an important factor in several diseases including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, obesity and diabetes. It is also believed to be responsible for the widespread pain that may occur with health conditions such as fibromyalgia. (Ang) In experiments, ccl2-/- cells show abnormalities in monocyte recruitment and cytokine expression. It has been found that drugs and chemicals like quercetin, a phytonutrient that is present in significant amounts in foods that are part of the Mediterranean diet,  can block the inflammatory cytokine Tnf-a induced expression of MCP-1.'


For further reading: Natural Foods that Activate the Body's Antioxidant Response Against Cellular Stress



The immune protective effect of the Mediterranean diet against chronic low-grade inflammatory diseases. Endocrine, metabolic & immune disorders drug targets, Vol. 14, No. 4. (2014), pp. 245-254 by Rosa Casas, Emilio Sacanella, Ramon Estruch. http://www.citeulike.org/user/kimberlykramer2015/article/13570548
Mediterranean Diet: Constituents and Health Promotion (23 January 2001) edited by Antonia-Leda Matalas, Antonis Zampelas, Vassilis Stavrinos, page 118.
Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1): an overview. Journal of interferon & cytokine research : the official journal of the International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research, Vol. 29, No. 6. (June 2009), pp. 313-326, doi:10.1089/jir.2008.0027 by Satish L. Deshmane, Sergey Kremlev, Shohreh Amini, Bassel E. Sawaya. http://www.citeulike.org/user/kimberlykramer2015/article/7529418
Nrf2, a master regulator of detoxification and also antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and other cytoprotective mechanisms, is raised by health promoting factors. Sheng li xue bao : [Acta physiologica Sinica], Vol. 67, No. 1. (25 February 2015), pp. 1-18 by Martin L. Pall, Stephen Levine
MCP-1 and IL-8 as pain biomarkers in fibromyalgia: a pilot study. Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.), Vol. 12, No. 8. (August 2011), pp. 1154-1161 by Dennis C. Ang, Michele N. Moore, Janna Hilligoss, Rebeka Tabbey. http://www.citeulike.org/user/kimberlykramer2015/article/13571668