When it comes to diet and nutrition, it seems like the only thing that all experts can agree on is that there is no universally accepted consensus about the best diet to follow for optimal health. There are so many schools of thought about which foods should and shouldn’t be eaten, how to best lose weight, what ratios of the different macronutrients to consume, and so on, which is why the Rolodex of popular diets is extensive and ever-expanding. From paleo to vegan, Whole30 to keto, the bevy of diets is not only diverse but also contradictory, with some popular diets demonizing the very foods and nutrients highlighted in others.
Given the sheer number of options, the complexity of the characteristics of each diet, and the conflicting nutritional information and principles used to substantiate each diet, it’s no wonder so many of us are confused about what to eat and what diet is ultimately the best. With that said, though, nutritionists, doctors, dietitians, and the medical community at large are at odds over much of the nutritional advice, the majority of experts routinely name the Mediterranean diet as one of the healthiest diets out there.
Compared to many of the other popular diets, the Mediterranean diet is also one of the most well-studied, research-backed eating plans, with plenty of evidence to substantiate disease-mitigating effects and health benefits, and it consistently places among the top two or three diets in the U.S. News and World Report annual ranking of best diets.
Therefore, among a seemingly endless candidate pool of potential diets, the Mediterranean diet stands out from the crowd and warrants consideration if you’re looking to overhaul your diet to improve your health. If you’ve never heard of the Mediterranean diet, or need a refresher on what specifically it entails, keep reading for our introductory guide to the Mediterranean diet, which will help you learn all the basics you need to start eating well and feeling better.
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What Is the Mediterranean Diet?
The Mediterranean diet is modeled around the traditional dietary habits practiced in the Mediterranean region — especially Greece and Italy — around the 1960s, due to the fact that these cultures had particularly low rates of lifestyle diseases like Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. The Mediterranean diet is a little more flexible and less specific than some popular diets given the fact that the Mediterranean region is vast and there is plenty of variability in the dietary habits and nuances between exactly what foods each culture eats.
Therefore, rather than prescribe specific macronutrient ratios or include comprehensive lists of included and excluded foods, the Mediterranean diet more generally encourages the consumption of vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, herbs, spices, fish, seafood, and extra virgin olive oil. The emphasis is on consuming whole, natural foods, especially plant-based ones, and avoiding processed foods and excessive meat.
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What Are the Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet?
The Mediterranean diet is one of the most well-studied popular diets. It has been shown to provide numerous health benefits, assist in weight loss, and reduce the risk of a variety of lifestyle diseases. For example, a five-year study compared the Mediterranean diet with olive oil, the Mediterranean diet with nuts, and a control diet. The calorie intake was the same in all three diets, yet the two iterations of the Mediterranean diet reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease by roughly 30% over the duration of the study.
The Mediterranean diet was particularly effective compared to the control diet at lowering disease risk factors, such as weight, high blood pressure, and waist circumference, for participants with high blood pressure, lipid problems, or obesity. The Mediterranean diet has also been shown to reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome, all-cause mortality, high cholesterol, and Type 2 diabetes. It has also been shown to be more effective at helping people lose weight compared to low-fat diets.
In addition to the reported health benefits, most people find the Mediterranean diet to be practical and feasible. Moreover, given that it is less restrictive and less militant than many fad diets, sustained adherence is often better. Because any diet can only really be successful if it’s actually maintained over time, the fact that more adopters of the Mediterranean diet tend to stick to it cannot be overstated.
Lastly, since the Mediterranean diet is based on sound, sustainable eating habits, it can help dieters make true lifestyle changes to their dietary practices rather than simply view their new food choices as temporary until weight loss is achieved.
What Foods Can You Eat On the Mediterranean Diet?
The Mediterranean diet encourages the consumption of foods native to the Mediterranean region, as well as those traditionally eaten by the cultures residing there. The diet does not provide specific calorie limits nor does it even emphasize counting calories or macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats). Instead, the focus should be placed on eating a plant-based diet, with the foods coming in their most whole, natural state as possible.
For example, eating whole, ripe tomatoes would be preferred over canned tomato soup from concentrate or even canned tomato purée. Though the Mediterranean diet is plant-centric, fresh fish is encouraged and eggs are permitted in moderation. The majority of what you eat should be vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, fresh fish, nuts, and olive oil.
Though far from an exhaustive list, here are some of the best foods to eat on the Mediterranean diet:
- Vegetables: Spinach, kale, chard, broccoli, broccolini, artichokes, zucchini, cucumbers, onions, cauliflower, tomatoes*, peppers* (*technically fruits)
- Fruits: Pears, apples, melons, oranges, berries, lemons, figs
- Tubers: Turnips, potatoes, sweet potatoes, rutabaga, kohlrabi
- Legumes: Lentils, beans, peas, peanuts
- Whole Grains: Buckwheat, whole wheat, rye, brown rice, whole oats
- Nuts and Seeds: Almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, hazelnuts, cashews, flaxseeds
- Legumes: Beans, peas, lentils, pulses, peanuts, chickpeas, etc.
- Fish and Seafood: Salmon, mackerel, sardines, scallops, mussels, clams, trout, tuna, shrimp
- Healthy Fats: Olives, olive oil, avocados
- Herbs and Spices: Basil, oregano, mint, garlic, cinnamon, pepper
- Water
- Red wine
- Unsweetened tea
- Coffee
The following foods can be consumed in moderation, perhaps a couple of times per week:
- Poultry: Chicken, turkey, duck
- Dairy: Cheese, plain yogurt, milk, kefir
- Eggs
Red meat can be eaten very sparingly, maybe once a month.
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What Foods Are Not Allowed On the Mediterranean Diet?
Most processed and packaged foods are not allowed on the Mediterranean diet. Essentially, the shorter the list of ingredients on the label of the food, the better. The following categories of foods should be avoided:
- Refined Grains: White bread, refined pasta, bagels, cereal bars, pastries, English muffins
- Processed Meats: Hot dogs, sausages, lunch meats
- Sweetened Foods: Ice cream, jelly, oatmeal packets, most boxed cereals, pop tarts, candy, juices, sodas
- Refined Oils and Trans Fats: Canola oil, soybean oil, margarine
- Artificial Sweeteners
- “Diet” Foods: Low-fat cookies, sugar-free Jello, lite ice cream
Again, the goal is to eat foods in their most whole, natural state.
Sample Mediterranean Diet Meal Plan
Curious what a day of eating might look like on the Mediterranean diet? Below, we share a sample meal plan:
- Breakfast: Overnight oats made from whole oats with a topping of Greek yogurt, mixed berries, slivered almonds, and a sprinkle of flaxseeds.
- Lunch: Grilled mixed vegetables over bulgar with a drizzle of olive oil and pumpkin seeds
- Dinner: Large salad with a blend of spinach and arugula, tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado. feta cheese, and a small filet of salmon or sardines
- Dessert: Fresh peach
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