UNESCO
MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE
The benefits of Mediterranean food
Text: Željka Kunštek
U
pon the initiative of several countries - Spain, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, and Croatia, which sent in a multinational candidacy, in 2013, Mediterranean cuisine was absolutely deservingly inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. That cuisine, which the World Health Organization has named the healthiest in the world, is one of the main features of the Croatian Adriatic - its coastal region, the islands, and part of the hinterland. Nearly all tourists have, while enjoying a coastal destination in Croatia, and its leisurely Mediterranean lifestyle, tried fresh Adriatic fish, seafood, and vegetables enriched with precious drops of olive oil, and rounded off their meal with a glass of homemade red wine. Healthy, natural ingredients are the base of Mediterranean cuisine, so along with fresh fish and seafood, a typical Mediterranean dish includes grains, various fruits and vegetables, wild greens, legumes, nuts, various high-quality cheeses (made with goat's and sheep's milk), and the musthave olives, which locals use to produce extra-virgin olive oil, which Homer called
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"liquid gold" back in the days. Various desserts are also an integral part of the Mediterranean spread, most often made using nuts (almonds, walnuts, and hazelnuts), dried fruits and produce such as figs, carob, and lemon and orange peel. Organic honey is used as a sweetener. Many studies conducted worldwide have confirmed the positive effect of Mediterranean cuisine on health, primarily in preserving healthy hearts, protecting from chronic degenerative diseases, strengthening the immune system, decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, improving work efficiency... So, there is truly no reason not to try the healthy and delicious dishes from Mediterranean menus the next time you are enjoying yourself in the Mediterranean part of Croatia.