Integrative Medicine 
Empower Wellness for optimal living

Mediterranean Nutrition and Style of Life (SOL)

The Mediterranean Diet, inspired by the traditional eating habits of the people from the Greek Island of Crete and neighboring Mediterranean regions during the 1960s, is renowned as the best and most extensively researched way to eat to lower your risk of disease and live a long and healthy life, and it just so happens, my family grew up in Crete at the time of the study.

​

Dr. Ancel Keys coined the term “The Mediterranean Diet” based on the Seven Countries Study where he reported that the people from Crete, that notably consumed the highest amounts of olive oil, also had the lowest rates of heart disease, all cause mortality and enhanced longevity even compared to the other Mediterranean countries. Since this landmark study, there have been numerous research studies that highlight the unprecedented health benefits of adopting these traditional eating habits, such as, the PREDIMED Trial, The Lyon Diet Heart Study, Nurses' Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Stud, and SUN Cohort Study in Spain.

The depth of scientific research on Mediterranean nutrition and my desire to empower my patients with food as medicine inspired me to do an ethnographic research study for my doctoral dissertation at The University of Lancaster on “The Mediterranean Diet and Plants of Crete for Diabetes”. In this ethnographic study, I explored my cultural and culinary roots by interviewing people in Crete, Greece regarding what they ate, drank, foraged, and used as herbal and natural medicine when they were growing up in Crete during the same time when Dr Ancel Keys did his study that gave birth to The Mediterranean Diet. Through this research, I found that there were important cultural and culinary practices, the same ones I grew up with thanks to my parents passing down their culinary and healing traditions from Crete, that were essential to optimizing the health benefits of The Mediterranean Diet. Some of the essential missing elements included, wild and bitter greens, herbal teas, spiritual fasting practices, herbal and folk medicines and lifestyle practices.

I created the Mediterranean Diet and Temple of Health that interweaves these authentic components with our need for modern, sustainable agriculture for a brighter future. This guide is incorporates scientific research and my over 20 years of clinical experience in holistic primary care medicine and teaching functional nutrition for over a decade to get you started on eating for health and longevity in a way that also heals our agricultural system. While a personalized plan yield’s optimal results, this guide will give you scientifically validated ways to eat to live a long and healthy life.

The Mediterranean Diet is at it’s heart, a plant-based omnivorous diet composed of fresh, seasonal fruit and vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, low to moderate dairy, meat and wine consumption, has been consistently linked to reduced risk of heart disease, improved cognitive function, better weight management, and much more.. The Mediterranean Diet can be modified to cater to any moral or preferred dietary restrictions, such as, Paleo, Vegetarian, Keto, Vegan, food allergies, sensitivities, and intolerances.

How we live is as important as how we eat if we want to live a long and healthy life, therefore, this guide includes authentic Mediterranean Style of Life (SOL) components in addition to diet that includes:

• Be Active. Movement is essential to keeping moving.

• Sleep and Rest. Getting quality sleep at night is needed for optimal health and rejuvenation for healing.

• Stress Management. Stress is a part of life, however, how we manage it leads to a longer, healthier and happier life.

• Social Connections. Humans are social animals, and as such, we need as Brene Brown says in her books "love and belonging."

• Sunshine. Life needs sunshine, water, and nutrient-rich soil to grow and so do we. Get your dose of daily vitamin D from sunshine and being out in nature as much as possible.

The Mediterranean Diet and Temple of Health by Dr Artemis weaves together science and authentic culture in this delicious and nutritious way of eating and living from the generous bounty of mother nature’s kitchen... and it tastes great too!

Enjoy and be well!

Dr Artemis Morris

​

Online Course on The Mediterranean Diet and Style of Life (SOL) coming soon....