Mediterranean diet

American  

[med-i-tuh-rey-nee-uhn dahy-it] / ˌmɛd ɪ təˈreɪ ni ən ˈdaɪ ɪt /

noun

1. a diet traditionally followed in Greece, Spain, southern Italy and France, and parts of the Middle East, with emphasis on fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, seafood, and olive oil.

   A study showed that people who ate a Mediterranean diet had a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease than people following a low-fat diet.

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Etymology

Origin of Mediterranean diet

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

A 2025 review in Cardiovascular Research described the Mediterranean diet as one of the best studied dietary patterns for cardiovascular prevention, citing large randomized trials including PREDIMED, PREDIMED-Plus, CORDIOPREV, and the Lyon Diet Heart Study.

From Science Daily • May 19, 2026

For many people, a less restrictive eating plan such as the Mediterranean diet may be easier to maintain while still supporting healthy blood sugar levels.

From Science Daily • Mar. 9, 2026

And eating right: There is a growing body of evidence that eating a so-called Mediterranean diet may dramatically lower your risk of dementia.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 11, 2026

The Mediterranean diet centers on eating plenty of vegetables, fruits, legumes, and fish, along with healthy fats such as olive oil.

From Science Daily • Feb. 9, 2026

They said that she enjoyed a broadly healthy lifestyle: she lived in the countryside, walked one hour a day, and ate an oil-rich Mediterranean diet.

From BBC • Jan. 12, 2026