WHAT MAKES THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET SO GOOD FOR US?

The Mediterranean diet may help you live longer, especially if you also adopt the lifestyle of people living near the Med during the 1950s.

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Characterised by a high intake of plant-based foods and moderate to low amounts of fish, meat and dairy, the Mediterranean diet also includes the occasional glass of wine, ideally enjoyed with others during meals. Physical activity and an active social life are also important aspects.

American physiologist Ancel Keys first identified the Mediterranean diet in the 1950s after noting higher rates of heart disease in Americans, compared with southern Europeans. His interest grew when he found that southern Italy had a high number of centenarians.