Marche land of well-being

Indice
Multimedia
ServizioContenuto basato su fatti, osservati e verificati dal reporter in modo diretto o riportati da fonti verificate e attendibili.Scopri di più
Economy

Marche, the Mediterranean diet as a lifestyle not just a diet

Projects carried out by municipalities in the Marche region for dissemination activities on issues of wellbeing, quality of life and enhancement of regional forest resources

by Daniela Casciola

3' min read

3' min read

The Mediterranean diet as a lifestyle, not just a diet. A theme to which the Marche Region, a land of well-being, has always been sensitive. Considering also that the Mediterranean diet includes many products and raw materials found in the Marche region, foods that have always existed in the region's culinary tradition.

A way of life that has been valued in this region for several decades already. Starting with the experience of Montegiorgio, the town where the Seven Countries Study was conducted in the 1960s, with internationally renowned doctors, researchers and scientists validating the model. In Montegiorgio, 719 men were examined and 29 families were selected from among them for an in-depth examination on food consumption. The examinations were carried out until 1991: the conclusions reported the fundamental importance of the studies conducted there for the definition of the Mediterranean diet, recognised in 2010 as a Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Loading...

Today, the Marche Region continues to promote the Mediterranean diet as a model of behaviour that includes respecting the environment, eating healthily, making a community, maintaining rituals and traditions, also with the aim of triggering a dynamic of investments and tourist flows. The initiative is part of the events promoted by the Marche Region to promote the Regional Law on Wellbeing no. 23/2023, which aims to encourage healthy lifestyles, strengthen social ties and promote Marche as a region of quality of life.

Some projects focus on the valorisation and use of products belonging to the Mediterranean diet for the population's dietary education and correct lifestyles. First and foremost, extra virgin olive oil, recognised for its benefits on cardiovascular health, its anti-inflammatory properties and its role in the prevention of chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity. Also honey, as a product that contributes to the protection of local agro-forestry resources thanks to the link between nature, daily diet, knowledge of wild herbs and melliferous plants and that contributes - especially unifloral honey - to the maintenance of biodiversity.

Since it is important to start prevention as early as possible, favouring a healthy lifestyle and a correct diet, many projects also emphasise the use of the Mediterranean diet in the dietary education of children as early as kindergarten, developing, among other things, an overall positive attitude towards this diet. Children are educated to taste pulses and whole-grain cereals, to eat at least five courses of fruit (also dried) and vegetables, preferably in season, because consuming food products at the time when they are harvested not only makes the food taste better but also offers a higher amount of vitamins than greenhouse or imported fruit and vegetables. Proteins from meat, especially white meat, fish, dairy products and eggs balance the food plan.

Loading...

And again as part of the events promoted by the Marche Region for the valorisation of the Regional Law on Wellbeing no. 23/2023, the Region also promoted projects grounded by the municipal administrations of the Marche Region for dissemination activities on the themes of wellbeing, quality of life and the valorisation of regional forest resources. This was done through the publication of two calls for proposals. A total of 58 projects were received (27 with the first call and 31 with the second) focused on the perception of the quality of life in the municipalities of the Marche Region, both in general terms and with respect to specific areas (work, public services, safety, inclusiveness, environment, social life, local administration, opportunities, etc.) in order to detect strengths and weaknesses of the municipal contexts and to release useful information to better define urban policies related to the well-being and quality of life of citizens.

The projects represent an extraordinary opportunity to promote the Marche Region in a 'virtuous' context involving tourism, culture, health and sustainability, with positive repercussions for both residents and visitors. The strengths of the projects presented by the various municipal administrations can be summarised in seven points that represent their strategic axes:

  • promotion of wellbeing and quality of life, e.g. through nature walks (also with the involvement of the Marche Region hiking network), e-bike excursions, music, taste and cultural festivals that contribute to the enhancement of the area's landscape and natural beauty, encouraging outdoor physical activity;
  • promotion of wellbeing through food prevention and correct lifestyles, with a focus on nutrition, sustainability and the promotion of a balanced diet that includes local products with a high nutritional content;
  • enhancement of the link between physical, mental and environmental health, in a framework geared towards sharing and enjoyment for a population made up of individuals who enjoy being together but who also feel good about themselves in an environment that is favourable to them;
  • recovery and valorisation of the municipal cultural heritage, which will become the focus of guided tours that will tell the history and traditions of the places, also in synergy with universities and research organisations;
  • integration between tradition and innovation, for example by bringing traditional cuisine up to date by reinterpreting it in a modern, healthy and sustainable context, also with the introduction of dishes typical of the Mediterranean diet;
  • synergy between culture, tourism and the local economy through a strong collaboration between local administrations, tourist associations and cultural institutions, fostering the economic growth of the areas involved, particularly in the earthquake crater territories;
  • regional and national visibility through collaboration with the Marche's universities, research bodies and local operators, thus amplifying the visibility of individual projects, attracting visitors from outside the region and experts from all over Italy who strengthen the image of the Marche region as a place of cultural excellence and experiential tourism, with a rich offer of events, exhibitions, conferences and outdoor activities.
    • .

The projects translate into promoting the Marche region as a land of wellbeing, quality of life, culture and sustainability, contributing to the growth of tourism and the affirmation of a development model that combines tradition, innovation and respect for the environment. The proposed interventions aim, among other things, to implement public awareness of the benefits of using green spaces, especially in urban contexts, benefits that translate into individual and group health and into the psycho-physical development of the population, especially the frail, children and the elderly.

Copyright reserved ©
Loading...

Brand connect

Loading...

I prossimi eventi

Tutti gli eventi

Newsletter

Notizie e approfondimenti sugli avvenimenti politici, economici e finanziari.

Iscriviti