The Mediterranean Diet’s Impact on Health and the Planet From Rescued Food to Artisan Bites New Study Highlights Importance of Investing in Emerging Food Markets GreenWave Works to Restore Oceans all over the Globe while Creating Jobs and a Market for Seaweed Scientists Found Eating Organic Food for One Week can Reduce Levels of Pesticides Podcast: In Immokalee, Food Provides A Platform for Future Professionals Podcast: Break Silos Between Food and Health For Better Policy Celebrating the Mediterranean Diet Dear NKSAGAR, Greetings from Baltimore! This month, as eaters across the Northern Hemisphere start the grilling and picnic season, we’re celebrating International Mediterranean Diet Monthas a reminder to eat to protect health and the planet this summer. Praised by doctors, scientists, and chefs alike, the Mediterranean Diet is better for mind, body, and planetary health. Emphasizing plant-based, nutrient-rich ingredients and limiting meat and alcohol consumption, the diet is tied to reduced risks of heart disease, improved sleep, lower rates of obesity and diet-related illnesses, and—according to new research from the American Psychological Association—reduced risks for late-life depression. The Mediterranean diet represents a change in eating culture beyond the food we put into our bodies. Eating communally amongst friends and family—a central recommendation of the Mediterranean eating style—cuts through poor eating habits created by on-the-go eating and globalized, standardized food customs. Through food, the diet fosters a sense of belonging amongst eaters and throughout communities, which is pivotal to nourishment. Proponents of the Mediterranean diet are overturning outdated understandings of the connection between our bodies and the planet. Findings from the EAT-Lancet Commission on Food, Planet, Health and the Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition prove that the foods that are healthiest for people are also healthiest and the least burdensome for the planet. A diet formed mainly by fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes can reduce diet-related GHG emissions by up to 30 percent, agricultural land use by an average 27 percent, and water use by an average 10 percent. By making smarter choices about what to eat, the public can join mental health experts, nutritionists, and environmental activists in pressing for a better food system. Read and share this article on Food Tank by CLICKING HERE. How are you eating consciously this month for mental, physical, and environmental health? Please email me at danielle@foodtank.com to share with us! Sincerely, Dani Read More Food Tank Events HURRY! Food Tank Summit Tickets on Sale Now! San Francisco May 29, 2019 Food For Thought in SF: Can We Afford to Eat? Purchase Tickets Hurry, this event will sell out! Los Angeles June 5, 2019 Food For Thought: Access, Affordability, Equity in the Food System in LA Purchase Tickets Hurry, this event will sell out! Latest Podcasts In Immokalee, Food Provides A Platform for Future Professionals Yvelande Astreide, Office Manager of Taste of Immokalee, talks about the reverberation effects of the entrepreneurship program: professional development for high school students and community support for farmers. Listen Here Break Silos Between Food and Health For Better Policy On May 10, Food Tank visited the U.S. Capitol, joining experts like Kathleen Merrigan, Robert Graham, Gregory Cooper, and Rep. James P. McGovern to define the connection between agriculture and health for better food policy. Listen Here News & Trending Articles From Rescued Food to Artisan Bites Small food business went from serving bread and marmalade to catering high brow events in London using food waste. Read More New Study Highlights Importance of Investing in Emerging Food Markets By fixing the inefficient steps along the supply chain that lead to less available nutritious food, investments in Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia can see better health outcomes. Read More GreenWave Works to Restore Oceans all over the Globe while Creating Jobs and a Market for Seaweed Bren Smith is a self-proclaimed "huge fan of bundles of solutions." To a large extent, this means making the connection between land and sea instead of simply viewing the ocean as a new frontier. Read More Scientists Found Eating Organic Food for One Week can Reduce Levels of Pesticides Researchers found that eating organic food for one week had significantly reduced levels of toxins within the body, and in turn, reduce the health risks of pesticide exposure. Read More View web version