BOSTON—Oldways announced the release of an updated Mediterranean Diet Pyramid. The revised pyramid and related text include updates based on hundreds of contemporary nutrition and health science studies reported in peer-reviewed scientific journals during the last fifteen years.
Three principal modifications are incorporated in the 2008 pyramid:
1. All plant foods (fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, legumes, seeds, olives and olive oil) are placed in a single group at the base of the pyramid, indicating that they should be the basis of most meals;
2. The frequency of consuming fish and shellfish is increased to at least two times per week, indicating their multiple contributions to brain and reproductive organ health; and
3. Herbs and spices are added to the pyramid to reflect increased evidence of their health-promoting characteristics and the role they play in increasing the palatability of foods.