90 The Open Nutraceuticals Journal, 2012, 5, (Suppl 1-M7) 90-98 1876-3960/12 2012 Bentham Open Open Access Development of the Mediterranean Soup for Enteral Nutrition and for Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases R.B. Singh 1, * , Jayeeta Choudhury 2 , Fabien De Meester 3 and D.W. Wilson 4 1 Halberg Hospital and Research Institute, UP, India 2 Center of Nutrition Research, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 3 The Tsim Tsoum Institute, Krakow, Poland 4 School of Medicine and Health, Durham University, UK Abstract: Background: The Paleolithic diet with fruits, vegetables, roots, leaves, seeds, honey, meat, fish and eggs provided low w-6/w-3 ratio of fatty acids, high monounsaturated fatty acids, fiber, phytochemical antioxidants and proteins. Recent studies indicate that diets similar to Paleolithic diet have anti-inflammatory potential, whereas Western diet, with refined carbohydrates, high w-6/w-3 ratio of fatty acids, lower protein, high in saturated trans and w-6 fat, has proinflammatory effects. Foods that comply with the Paleolithic diet promote a balanced ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids (w6:w3-PUFAs = 1:1) in serum total lipids and, in turn, a 25% proportion of w-6 in blood total highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs). Further evidence suggest that walnuts and almonds can decrease heart disease risk due to their hypolipidemic and anti- inflammatory effects. Such diet can also enhance immunity and adaptation due to decrease in inflammation. A meta- analysis of prospective cohort studies demonstrated that an increased consumption of fruit and vegetables from less than 3 to more than 5 servings / day is related to a 17% reduction in CAD risk, whereas an increased intake from 3 to 5 servings/day is associated with a smaller and borderline significant reduction. These results provide evidence supporting that 5 or more servings per day of fruit and vegetables, are needed to protect from noncommunicable diseases in general, and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in particular. There is evidence that a Mediterranean diet (fruits, vegetables, nuts, olive oil, whole grains) and Indo-Mediterranean diets (whole grains and mustard oil, vegetable, fruits and nuts) may be protective in patients with high risk of CVD. In some of these studies, soup rich in nuts, raisins, vegetables, tomato, carrot and mustard oil+olive oil as well as yogurt containing nuts and raisins have been used in the treatment of acute coronary syndrome, resulting into significant reduction in cardiac events and mortality. Keywords: Paleolithic diet, fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, heart disease. INTRODUCTION Prior to the Agricultural Revolution, our diet was based on wild plants, seeds, eggs, fish and meat from wild animals, whereas the latter half of the 20th century saw major changes to daily diets, moving from plant-based diets to high-fat, animal-based diets. Today, the greatest percentage of food supply is contributed by cereal grains, (mainly refined), refined carbohydrates and meat from farm sources [1-4]. The recent unacculturated native populations that moved to a modern Western lifestyle (and diet) are on foods rich in w-6 fatty acids, saturated fat and trans fat and low in w-3 fatty acids, fiber, phytoestrogens, minerals and antioxidants. In fact, the Agricultural Revolution (starting about 10,000 years ago) and the Industrial Revolution (onset a couple centuries ago) have produced an environment vastly different from *Address correspondence to this author at the Halberg Hospital and Research Institute, Civil Lines, Moradabad-10(UP)244001, India; Tel/Fax: 0091 591 2417437; E-mails icn2005@bsnl.in, rbs@tsimtsoum.net that of our Paleolithic ancestors, different from what Homo sapiens were thriving in for probably hundreds of thousands of years. This discordance has resulted in an ageing population, central obesity, sedentary lifestyle, excessive salt and alcohol, lower fruit, vegetable and legumes intake, increased risk for blood pressure elevation [5], type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, and some cancers. Cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes mellitus, obesity, cancer, autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and depression are associated with increased production of thromboxane A2(TXA2), leucotrienes, protacyclin, interleukins-1 and 6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and C-reactive proteins [1-3]. Increased dietary intake of w-6 fatty acids is known to enhance all these risk factors as well as atherogenicity of cholesterol which have adverse proinflammatory effects resulting into thrombosis and acute coronary syndromes (ACS) [1-3]. Foods that comply with the Columbus Concept promote a balance ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids (w6:w3- PUFAs = 1:1) in serum total lipids and, in turn, a 25%