The “Mediterranean Diet” is #1 worldwide again. Where did it come from? Based on the timeless wisdom of all things in moderation, the “Ευ Ζην” philosophy of our ancient forebears, and essential elements our homeland: wine, wheat and olive oil, the core of the Mediterranean Lifestyle was defined and present long ago. Those elements were incorporated into Greek Orthodox Christianity. Fast forward, and despite the terrible impacts of Germany’s World War II invasion and occupation, then followed by a devastating civil war, international researchers steadily began to document beneficial effects on nutrition, health and longevity in the post-war Greece of the 1950’s and 1960’s. Underlying these outcomes were a diet and lifestyle based on the traditional products and practices available to and sustainable by the rural agrarian communities of Greece. During these times, the majority of the population closely followed the Greek Orthodox Calendar and its timeless fasting practices. The diet was based on local and seasonal – mainly plant products (greens- cultivated and wild, vegetables, legumes, whole-grain cereals and fruits) with a plurality (up to 40%) of calories derived from olives and extra virgin olive oil. Physical activity was an essential practice through chores and walking many kilometers daily as required by the rural lifestyle. They drank local wine at most meals in moderation, and an afternoon siesta was the norm. When they consumed animal products, nothing was wasted. The same was true of tins, barrels and bottles that they recycled and used countless times long before it was a modern fashion. These frugal practices birthed what is now called the “Mediterranean Diet & Lifestyle”. Ironically, those traditional habits of poor farmers are now practiced more commonly by wealthier and more highly educated persons, including in non-Mediterranean countries. The presentation will share the efforts of the Hellenic Center of Excellence whose programs in Greece combine state of the art science presented by the world’s leading experts with unforgettable, hands-on immersion experiences (e.g. harvesting and milling olives, visiting wineries, monasteries & historical sites). All of these while staying in some of GRECOTEL’s best 5-star properties in breathtaking seaside locations.
The Secret of “Ευ Ζην”: Experiential/ Participatory Conferences in Greece Create Ambassadors for Life
Location
- Thessaloniki City Hall, King George Avenue, A1, Thessaloniki 546 36
Who the
Speakers are:
Speaker
-
Stefanos KalesProfessor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Professor & Director of the Occupational Medicine Residency at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health (HSPH)Dr. Kales is a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical
School, and Professor & Director of the Occupational
Medicine Residency at the Harvard Chan School of
Public Health (HSPH). He is also Chief of Occupational
Medicine /Medical Director- Employee Health at the
Cambridge Health Alliance, a Harvard-affiliated hospital
system. He organized and hosted
Harvard’s groundbreaking 2014 Mediterranean Diet
Conference, and he was Scientific Chair of the
landmark 2017 Mediterranean Diet & Health Experiential
Conference in Greece. In 2019, Dr. Kales received
competitive funding from Harvard’s Radcliffe Institute
for Advanced Study to organize and host the
invitation-only Exploratory Seminar: “Mediterranean
Diet: Promotion and Dissemination of Healthy
Eating”. He is the founder of the Hellenic Center for
Excellence in Health & Wellness, and is the scientific
organizer of the 2022, 2023, 2024 & 2025 Mediterranean
Experiential Lifestyle conferences in Greece. These
innovative gatherings combine state of the art scientific
presentations from world-renowned figures withauthentic, “hands-on” immersion experiences (agro-
culinary, historical, cultural) embraced by Greekhospitality.
Dr. Kales has participated in a wide range of medical/public health research, advisory and teaching activities on
five continents resulting in over 265 publications and wide recognition nationally and internationally. He has served
on the editorial boards of several biomedical journals and is a faculty member in Harvard’s Cardiovascular
Epidemiology Program and Harvard Medical School’s Division of Sleep Medicine.
Dr. Kales has received numerous honors, including the 2013 Kehoe Award for Excellence in Education and Research and
2014 Harriet Hardy Award for outstanding scientific contributions to the field. He has also received honors from the
International Association of Fire Chiefs and was inducted into the Order of Emperor Dom Pedro II by the Federal Corp of
Brazilian Military Firefighters. He has also received several million dollars in competitive US federal funding, including
an ambitious Mediterranean Diet Intervention trial (“Feeding America’s Bravest: Survival Mediterranean Style) among
Midwestern firefighters which was awarded the 2017 Silver Medal for Health Research by the Oleocanthal
International Society. He received the 2024 Mentor Award from the American College of Occupational & Environmental
Medicine.
Dr. Kales grew up around traditional Greek foods prepared by his beloved grandmother in the family kitchen and expanded
these formative experiences through extensive travels in Greece, Cyprus, Spain and Italy. As a health educator, he
seeks to lead by example; following a Mediterranean diet, practicing regular physical fitness and good sleep hygiene.
Dr. Kales’ ultimate goal is to use innovative approaches to disseminate healthy nutrition in schools, workplaces and
hospitals. Dr. Kales recently co-authored the “Textbook of Lifestyle Medicine” (Wiley UK), which emphasizes a
Mediterranean lifestyle as the gold standard for healthy living. In May 2022, he participated as an invited speaker
in the Pontifical Academy of Sciences symposium: “The Art & Science of Olive Oil” at the Vatican. He also co-organized
and led an international conference on lifestyle for dementia prevention for the A. G. Leventis Foundation.
The current work of Dr. Kales’ team centers on promoting healthy lifestyles, including:
• “Bottarga” Supplementation – A pilot study investigating the metabolic effects of Greek Bottarga to assess effects on
lipid profiles, inflammation, and insulin resistance among overweight/pre-diabetic individuals.
• “F!reF!ghterF!t” Trial – A randomized controlled trial evaluating a 9-month lifestyle coaching intervention for obese
firefighters.
• Surviving and Thriving App – Development and pilot testing of a smartphone application designed to support new
firefighters in adopting healthy lifestyle habits, improving fitness, and addressing behavioral health challenges.