Mediterranean diet

[med-i-tuh-rey-nee-uhn dahy-it]

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Mediterranean diet¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

Diets rich in anti-inflammatory foods, such as the Mediterranean diet, have also been linked to longer telomeres.

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The other group continued a traditional Mediterranean diet without calorie limits or exercise advice.

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"Diabetes is the first solid clinical outcome for which we have shown -- using the strongest available evidence -- that the Mediterranean diet with calorie reduction, physical activity and weight loss is a highly effective preventive tool," said Miguel Ángel Martínez-González, Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health at the University of Navarra, Adjunct Professor of Nutrition at Harvard University, and one of the principal investigators of the project.

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This study demonstrated that following a Mediterranean diet enriched with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by 30%.

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"The Mediterranean diet acts synergistically to improve insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation. With PREDIMED-Plus, we demonstrate that combining calorie control and physical activity enhances these benefits," explained Miguel Ruiz-Canela, Professor and Chair of Preventive Medicine and Public Health Department at the University of Navarra's School of Medicine and first author of the study.

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