Water Footprint Comparison in Various Food Ingredients Used in Mediterranean and Western-Type Diets in the Island of Crete, Greece

Different dietary patterns have different impacts on human health and on environment. The old traditional Mediterranean (Med) diet, based mainly on vegetables, fruits, olive oil, cereals and legumes, is considered a healthy diet. However, it has been gradually replaced from unhealthy dietary patterns the so-called Western-type diets, based more on red meat, processed meat, sugary drinks and prefabricated meals. The harmful health impacts of Western-type diets have been mentioned. Based on existing studies the water footprint (WF) of Med diet and Western-type diets have been analyzed and the green, blue and grey part of it has been examined. The low WF of Med diet compared to the WF of Western-type diets has been highlighted. Med diet has benefits on human health and on ecosystems while Western-type diets are unhealthy, have lower cost and are more consistent with modern lifestyles. It has been indicated that shift from Western dietary patterns to Med diet in the island of Crete, Greece causes a significant reduction on the WF. Our findings could be useful to policy makers and to public authorities who should promote Med diet which does not offer benefits only to human health but also to global ecosystems.