Nutrition and health: eating well, living better

The high prevalence of chronic diseases, especiallyat cardiovascular level and that of the associated metabolic abnormalities such as obesity and diabetes, are the main causes of the poor quality of lifeand of the high health expenditure that are unfortunately associated with the increased life expectancy of the Western populations. Many scientific evidences have clearly demonstrated that reducing overweight and modifying some dietary habits is a simple and effective way to fight against these diseases, especially if those foods commonly known as typical of the Mediterranean diet, i.e. cereals, legumes, fruit and vegetables, olive oil, fish and a fair quantity of red wine, are preferentially consumed.