ABSTRACT
The Mediterranean cuisine has a particular style of eating which involves the utilization of healthy fats such as olive oil and specialized proteins such as lamb in combination with omega 3 essential fatty acids from the Mediterranean Sea. Olive oil may be the “secret sauce” of the Mediterranean basin as its advantages are not only metabolic in nature perhaps even genetic as well. Specialized foods of the Mediterranean basin include garlic, onion, artichoke, tomato, broccoli and omega 3 essential fatty acids to mention a few. Astaxanthin, a powerful carotenoid, also has major cardiovascular benefits and is widely present in the Mediterranean basin. New definitions such as autophagy and mTOR provide interesting correlations especially since the Mediterranean style of eating contains multiple mTOR inhibitors as well as targeted nutraceuticals that support autophagy. This new vocabulary may provide interesting information into why the Mediterranean cuisine is health promoting especially since there are more centenarians located in countries that involve the Mediterranean basin than the entire world.
