The ANZACS & the Mediterranean Diet

Catherine & Farleigh

5 July 2010: A 91-year-old World War II veteran could be living proof of the benefits of eating a Mediterranean Cretan diet, as researched by a University of Canberra academic.

Farleigh James has been eating the Cretan diet for over 60 years since he served in Crete for two years during the war. Associate Professor Catherine Itsiopolous has been studying the health benefits of the diet, and after hearing about this in The Canberra Times, Mr James attended a lecture and lunch about her research at the University.

The Mediterranean Cretan diet has been shown to have many benefits such as lowering the risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

In 1941 Mr James first served in Crete, where he experienced the different culture first-hand. Other than eating the basic army diet, he enjoyed a range of vegetables and healthy snacks. A normal diet at the time was a lot of vegetables and fruit, small amounts of meat and fish, fruit and nuts after meals and olive oil.

Unlike other ANZACs in Crete, Mr James thoroughly enjoyed eating a large amount of vegetables and weeds. He can distinctly remember eating a lot of tomatoes and olive oil with every meal.

While in Crete, Mr James and the other men drank diseased water and became quite ill. The Cretans gave them yoghurt to ease their upset stomaches, but none of the ANZACs had seen yoghurt before. After eating the yoghurt they discovered that they felt a lot better.

In 1943 Mr James returned to Australia where he continued eating the Cretan diet. He influenced his wife and children and still cooks his own meals. When he was back in Australia he realised how healthy the Cretan diet was. He also noticed Australians ate a large portion of meat with a small amount of salad which was very different from Crete.

In the mornings Mr James cooks his own vegetables, frittata and salad for lunch with a dinner that consists of meat, vegetables and fruit, nuts and yoghurt for snacks.

60 years later he is still eating the Cretan diet and is very healthy for a 91-year-old.