Cretan Nutrition

Cretan Diet: The Secret to Longevity

High-quality natural products form the foundation of the local traditional cuisine, where the taste of the ingredients is not altered by excessive seasoning. The Cretan diet is based on virgin olive oil, wild greens, vegetables, legumes, fish, meat, seafood, wine and tsikoudia. All these are complemented by a large variety of cheeses, with Cretan graviera, anthotyros, and myzithra being among the finest. Yogurt, honey, herbs, fresh orange juice, and various fruits complete this precious and healthy diet.

When American nutritionists came to Crete in the late 1950s to examine the phenomenon of the Cretans' longevity, they couldn't believe their eyes! "How much oil do they eat, my God," exclaimed the internationally renowned doctor and nutrition pioneer Ancel Keys, as he saw the green salad literally swimming in olive oil. Essentially, Keys reiterated what nearly all travelers who had shown interest in the daily life of Cretans over the previous centuries had noticed. Today, it is believed that olive oil is the great secret of the Cretan diet and the accompanying Cretan longevity. Medical research conducted in Europe and America reveals that olive oil not only protects the heart but also aids in the proper function of many organs or acts beneficially against a range of diseases. It reduces cholesterol, has antioxidant action, protects against cancers, aids liver function, is ideal for people with diabetes, and so much more!

Aromatic plants also have their significant and grand tradition in Crete. Botanical studies reveal that the island has one of the richest and most interesting ecosystems in Europe with a large number of endemic plants, that is, plants that are found only in Crete, such as malotira (sideritis syriaca) and dittany (origanum dictamus L.), the latter being the king of the island's endemic flora, known and famed since antiquity for its antiseptic properties. Specifically, Hippocrates recommended dittany as an "oxytocic," meaning an herb that made childbirth painless and swift. Lastly, fruits hold their significant share in the local diet. In Crete, fruit cultivation is traditional, the trees are perfectly adapted to the island's environment, and the fruits produced are truly flavorful, without chemical burdens. The quintessential summer fruit of Crete, the grape, is nowadays considered an ideal choice for a balanced diet

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