Med Diet 101
The Mediterranean Diet
What is it?
A lifestyle approach to healthy eating that includes a balanced variety of foods and daily exercise.
What it's not?
A fad diet, magic bullet, or quick fix.
While most people associate the word diet with bland food and strict rules, the word diet actually refers to the foods and drinks regularly consumed by a population or individual.
Where?
The phrase Mediterranean Diet refers to the food and drink traditionally eaten by people living in the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea (Egypt, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Algeria, Greece, Albania, Israel, Spain, Italy, France, Croatia, Lebanon, Libya, and Malta).
Who?
Ancel Keys, a famous researcher and father of the Mediterranean Diet, discovered the Diet in the 1940's after he noticed that people who ate a Mediterranean-style diet had the lowest rates of chronic disease.
In fact, people who follow a Mediterranean Diet live longer.
What's even better? They do this by eating delicious foods. That's right, no depriving yourself on a Mediterranean diet. It's filled with the freshest, best tasting foods.
How?
The main ingredients of the Mediterranean Diet include:
- Eating abundant amounts of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables
- Enjoying moderate portions of cheese and yogurt
- Choosing healthy fats like olive oil, nuts, avocados, and canola oil
- Drinking wine in moderation, usually with meals, if okay to do so
- Consuming fish and seafood regularly
- Eating small amounts of red meat only few times per month
- Being physically active daily
Check out our Mediterranean Diet Pyramid to learn more.