Understanding Mediterranean and Okinawa Diets

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

• Summarise the characteristics and benefits of the Mediterranean and Okinawa diets
• Describe how diet influences human microbiota and how this has an impact on human health
• Evaluate the importance of healthy food frequency consumption
• Explore the many kinds of healthy diets; their different food composition and cultural approaches.
• Identify health-related properties of foods central to the two diets
• Design at least one simple healthy recipe of one of the course diets

Week 1: What do we eat?

• Is your food healthy?
• Why is diet important for your health?
• The Mediterranean (MED) food pyramid and scientific background
• The Okinawa diet: The food pyramid, scientific background and benefits for your health

Week 2: Diet and microbiota: health benefits

• Diet and microbiota: fundaments
• The health benefits of the MED and Okinawa diets
• Components of MED and Okinawa diets: protein sources
• Foods of the MED and Okinawa diets: fish, meat, poultry and dairy
• An easy-to-prepare recipe

Week 3: Foods of MED and Okinawa diets: properties and benefits

• Foods of the Okinawa diet: wakame and kombu seaweeds, tofu, shiitake mushrooms
• Components of MED and Okinawa diets: carbohydrate and fat sources
• Foods of the MED diet: olive oil
• Foods of the MED and Okinawa diets: fruit and vegetables
• Foods of the MED and Okinawa diets: cereals and pseudocereals