The Mediterranean Diet vs. 21st Century Lifestyle: A Review

The Mediterranean diet (MD) is widely recognized for its health benefits and its association with reduced incidence of noncommunicable diseases. However, modern lifestyles, characterized by increased consumption of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods and limited time for meal preparation, pose significant barriers to maintaining a healthy diet. Although numerous reviews have explored the nutritional benefits of the MD, fewer studies have examined how contemporary lifestyles conflict with dietary and behavioral habits of the Mediterranean lifestyle, and how food systems can adapt to MD principles. Therefore, this review examines the challenges of maintaining the MD in the context of 21st-century urban living and explores practical strategies for its integration into contemporary dietary patterns. The main characteristics and health-promoting components of the MD and Mediterranean lifestyle are reviewed, considering how changes in dietary habits, physical activity, social interactions, and the food environment influence adherence. The review also discusses interventions to promote MD adherence and the potential of RTE foods incorporating Mediterranean ingredients to offer convenient, nutritionally improved alternatives. Additionally, the valorization of Mediterranean agri-food by-products is discussed as an opportunity to incorporate bioactive compounds and functional ingredients into food products.