The UNESCO world heritage lists, which celebrate sites ranging from the Great Wall of China, Stonehenge, the Pyramids or the birthplace of Buddha to the Tower of London, the Great Barrier Reef or the Statue of Liberty, are about to be livened up by an unusual new culinary entry: the Mediterranean diet (pictured). Alongside crumbling castles and Greek temples, the UN is set to add a salad of tomato and mozzarella, topped off by a splash of virgin olive oil to its miscellany of global patrimony worth protecting.

聯合國教科文組織世界遺產名錄，從中國長城、巨石陣、金字塔或佛陀誕生地等知名遺址，到倫敦塔、大堡礁或自由女神像，即將因不尋常的新增一項美食文化：地中海飲食（見圖／沈娟娟攝）而更添新意。除了搖搖欲墜的城堡和希臘神殿，聯合國考慮把番茄奶酪沙拉上面潑灑初榨橄欖油，也列入值得保護的世界遺產名單。

The Mediterranean diet, with its mix of fresh fruit and vegetables, including tomatoes, broccoli and blackberries, grilled fish such as anchovy and tuna and lashings of olive oil favored in Italy, Greece and Spain, faces a final vote in November for ranking on UNESCO's lesser-known list of “intangible” cultural heritage, covering oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals and festivals.

地中海飲食，混合著新鮮蔬果，包括番茄、花椰菜和黑莓，以及烤魚，像鯷魚和鮪魚，再淋上大量義大利、希臘和西班牙人最愛的橄欖油，11月將面臨聯合國教科文組織最後投票表決，是否能列入「無形」文化遺產。無形文化遺產包括口述傳統、表演藝術、社會風俗、禮儀和節日。

The prestigious UNESCO list, which includes intangible items considered unique in the world, consists of 166 elements, including the Tango, the polyphonic singing of the Aka Pygmies of central Africa, the Croatian lace making and Chinese calligraphy, of which there are only two Italians: the Sicilian Puppet Theatre and the Sardinian Tenor. The Mediterranean diet, finally approved, is the third Italian element.

教科文組織聲譽卓著的世遺名錄，涵蓋166項世上獨一無二的無形資產，包括探戈、中非巴卡矮人族傳統複音歌樂、克羅埃西亞蕾絲編織和中國書法。義大利目前只有兩項無形文化遺產：西西里木偶劇場和薩丁尼亞男子複音音樂，地中海飲食最後如能過關，將是第3項。

Italian Agriculture Minister Giancarlo Galan said: “To be included on the UNESCO list is a great success for our country, our culinary traditions and our culture. The Mediterranean diet represents a style of life based on eating typical home grown products in the happy company of family and friends.UNESCO have realized that this tradition passed down from generation to generation deserves to be recognized.”

義大利農業部長賈蘭說：「如能列入世遺名單，將是我們國家飲食傳統和文化的一大成就。地中海飲食代表一種生活風格，以本地食材為主，並和家人親友共同快樂享用。教科文組織已意識到這個代代相傳的傳統值得肯定。」

The head of the Italian Confederation of Farmers (CIA) Giuseppe Politi said: “The Mediterranean diet is a valuable asset that should be safeguarded and shared. This not only recognizes the characteristics of a healthy diet but will also help promote the history and culture of all Mediterranean countries and especially products made in Italy such as fruit, pasta, olive oil and wine.”

義大利農民聯盟主席波利提說：「地中海飲食是一項寶貴的資產，應該加以維護和共享。這不僅僅是承認一種健康飲食的特點，也有利於促進所有地中海國家的歷史和文化，尤其是義大利的產品，像水果、麵食、橄欖油和葡萄酒。」

“It makes perfect sense. Not only is this culture, but it also makes you live longer and better,” said Rolando Manfredini, food safety officer for the Italian farmers' lobby group Coldiretti. He said the Mediterranean diet meant Italian men were living to an average age of 78.6 and women to 84.1, far above the European average, and anyone sticking to the diet was 13 percent less likely to suffer from Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease and 9 percent less likely to get cancer. For decades doctors and nutritionists have praised the benefits of the Mediterranean diet which is rich in fibre and low in fat and has contributed to longevity in many southern European countries. It is considered one of the best recipes against a variety of health problems, including arthritis, obesity, diabetes, asthma and cardiovascular disease.

「這很合乎情理，這不只是文化，還可使人更長壽健康。」義大利農民遊說團體Coldiretti食品安全官員曼弗雷迪尼說。他並表示，地中海飲食使義大利男性平均壽命78.6歲，女性84.1歲，遠高於歐洲平均水平，而且常吃地中海飲食者罹患巴金森氏症者減少13%，罹患老人失智症者減少9%，罹癌率也大幅降低。數十年來，醫生和營養師都讚揚地中海飲食的優點，指其中富含纖維以及低脂肪，使歐洲南部許多國家的人較長壽。地中海飲食也被視為改善各種健康問題，包括關節炎、肥胖、糖尿病、哮喘和心血管疾病的最佳食譜。

While trying not to dampen Italy's enthusiasm, spokeswoman for UNESCO Susan Williams warned that no decision on new additions to its list would be made before a committee meeting in Nairobi from November 14-19. The diet took off in the rest of the world in the late 20th century, with postwar cookery writer Elizabeth David helping to promote it among English speakers. Today, said Susan Williams, protecting a plate of tortellini was no different to stopping people scratching their initials in the Great Wall of China: “Being on the intangible list means the host country must promote and protect it exactly as it would a monument like Stonehenge,” she said.

義大利正在熱頭上，教科文組織女發言人蘇珊．威廉斯雖然不想澆冷水，但她警告說，在聯合國一委員會於11月14至19日於肯亞奈洛比開會前，不會決定新增的世遺名單。地中海飲食在戰後由烹飪作家伊麗莎白．大衛引介給英語世界，20世紀末在世界各地迅速流行。今天，蘇珊．威廉斯說：保護一盤義式水餃，跟禁止人任意在中國長城上刮上自己大名同樣重要：「列入無形世遺名單，意味著東道國必須更善盡促進保護之責，就像巨石陣紀念碑一樣。」（見圖／美聯社）

Italy, along with Greece, Spain and Morocco, first made a submission four years ago, but the proposal was turned down. The countries have now resubmitted it, hoping that by underlining the cultural importance of the delicious food, the Mediterranean diet will make the grade when UNESCO meet to discuss the matter in November.

義大利及希臘、西班牙和摩洛哥，4年前首先提出申請，可惜遭拒。這些國家現在重新提出申請，強調這種美食文化的重要性，希望聯合國教科文組織11月開會討論時，能申遺成功。

The CBS Early Show's Dr. Emily Senay says studies show that the diet, which originated in Italy and Greece, reduces metabolic syndrome - a cluster of symptoms that puts people at a higher risk for heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. People who adhere to it are also at a lower risk for obesity, fat buildup in the arteries and high blood pressure. The diet might even improve your appearance. Dr. David Bank, author of “Beautiful Skin: Every Woman's Guide to Looking her Best at Any Age,” says that a diet including fish, olive oil, vegetables and beans “may help minimize sun damage and prevent wrinkles.”

哥倫比亞廣播公司晨間節目的艾米莉‧塞內醫師說：研究顯示，地中海飲食起源於義大利和希臘，可降低新陳代謝症候群，這種症候群使人更易罹患心臟病和第二型糖尿病。常吃地中海飲食也可降低肥胖的風險，使脂肪不致堆聚在動脈上，並造成高血壓。這種飲食甚至可改善外表，著有《美膚指南：任何年紀的女人如何隨時保持最佳狀態》的班克斯博士說，飲食中包括魚、橄欖油、蔬菜和豆類：「可將陽光的傷害降到最低，並防止出現皺紋。」

The importance of food in Italy cannot be underestimated. In many cases, they do not eat to live, but live to eat. They do not see a meal as mere fuel to get through the day. Food is about pleasure, and most importantly it is a catalyst for family. They share food together, and through that they share other bits and pieces of their lives.

不可低估食物對義大利的重要性。在很多情況下，他們不是為了活著而吃，而是為了吃而活著。他們並不認為，飲食只是度過一天所需的燃料，而是一種樂趣，最重要的，它是家庭和樂的催化劑。他們一起分享美食，並透過美食，分享生命中的點點滴滴。