La Dieta Mediterranea

Good food and longevity

The old people of Pollica, Pioppi and other local villages have been shown to live longer and be in better health than their peers in other places and all this (probably) due to their excellent Mediterranean Diet.

Articles, in The Telegraph and The Independent talk about the numerous 100 year-olds in the Cilento.

The Mediterranean Diet

More a way of eating than a set of rules, this diet is based on an abundance of vegetables, some fish, pulses, very little meat, some grains and abundant olive oil. It was first pioneered by an American scientist called Ancel Keys who discovered that people from areas around the Mediterranean lived longer and had fewer heart problems. He chose Pioppi, a small seaside village just down the coast from Capalia, to conduct a major experiment into the eating habits of the locals. He suggested that the food eaten in these regions around the Mediterranean were at the root of the good health and longevity of the local population.

Restaurants around the Cilento serve traditional dishes based around local produce that is in season. Book a table with Mario at his small bed and breakfast ‘Il Cortile’ in Pollica. He will treat you divinely and offer delectable dishes cooked just for you in his ancient courtyard.

Also try La Casa di Delia in Pioppi. A delicious and relaxed way to discover the delights of the Mediterranean Diet.

There are recipes on our blog that can be tried anywhere and if you are in the Cilento region we will add ideas for food and local restaurants as we come across them ourselves.