A definition of "the primary lifestyle factors ingrained in Mediterranean inhabitants across generations" that was compiled by "a multidisciplinary panel comprising international experts and leaders in lifestyle medicine" that was convened by the Mediterranean Lifestyle Medicine Institute Board of Directors.

"Researchers followed 800 cancer survivors for more than a decade, observing that Mediterranean diet adherence could be associated with a lower all-cause mortality."

"The literature review found that the conviviality of the Mediterranean diet and its focus on consuming healthy fats help make it more effective than low-fat diets."

Judging the Mediterranean diet the Best Diet Overall for the 6th year in 2023, U.S. News & World Report also provides a good discussion of the reasons for that decision, the diet's benefits, and how to follow the diet.

"New research demonstrated that flavonoids and hydroxytyrosol counteract some of the most deadly impacts of Covid 19, including cytokine storms and lung inflammation."

"After an extensive review of the scientific literature, researchers found that following the Mediterranean diet yields many benefits for obese people and those at risk of obesity" as well as being "the healthiest dietary pattern available to prevent several non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.”

For the fifth year in a row, the olive-oil-rich Mediterranean diet was ranked the Best Diet Overall by U.S. News & World Report. Find out why.

"Researchers said the results demonstrate the role of a healthy diet in the treatment of depression in young adults."

Several studies suggest that the Mediterranean diet may help fight ADHD.

"Following the Mediterranean diet was linked with the normal development of an important part of the nervous system in depressed patients. "

"Based on the best nutrition research to date, [cardiologist Dr. James O'Keefe] says that a diet loaded with plant-based foods, fish, and extra-virgin olive oil — coupled with time-restricted eating — seems like the plan with the most upside." The article identifies this as "essentially a modified Mediterranean plan."

As Julie Al-Zoubi wrote, "The research team discovered that the MedDiet was the only diet to deliver any long-term benefits and it was particularly effective in the reduction of Low-Density Lipoprotein (also known as bad cholesterol) which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease."

Another reason to follow a traditional Mediterranean diet: it may help people with inflammatory bowel disease.

Scientific research shows that the act of cooking a traditional Mediterranean tomato sauce with onion, garlic, and extra virgin olive oil creates an especially healthy mixture rich in phenolic compounds that are easily absorbed by the body.

The Mediterranean diet was again ranked the Best Diet Overall, as well as the Best Diet for Healthy Eating, Best Diet for Diabetes, Best Plant-Based, the Easiest Diet to Follow, and the 2nd best Heart-Healthy diet, in the U.S. News & World Report annual rankings.

US News and World Report has judged the Mediterranean diet the best overall diet, as well as the best diet for diabetes; it also tied for first as the best heart-healthy diet. The benefits of the Med diet and several other diets are discussed here.

"A new study published by a group of Australian researchers suggests that eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and fish, such as the Mediterranean diet, can help reduce the symptoms of depression."

"Researchers believe characteristics of the Mediterranean diet, such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, might improve endurance."

As Mary West writes for Olive Oil Times, "A new study shows the formula for long-term weight loss and heart health is to eat the nutritious Mediterranean diet and engage in regular workouts."

As Mary West wrote for Olive Oil Times, "Researchers found that following the Mediterranean diet may reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease by 25 percent. They also got some clues as to why this may be the case."

"Eating a Mediterranean diet could give men the best chance of maintaining a sex life well into old age, research suggests - and olive oil is the key."

"Although the knowledge that the Mediterranean diet can reduce the risk of mortality is not new, this is the first time it has been shown to have a positive effect solely on the elderly."

“The ‘PREDIMED’ study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2013 conclusively showed that the Mediterranean diet group had a third less heart disease, diabetes and stroke than the low-fat group. They also lost a little weight and had less memory loss,” according to this “randomised control trial that looked at a large group of people over a long period of time.” Extra virgin olive oil seemed to be the most important factor.

At a conference at the UC Davis Olive Center, nutrition and preventive medicine experts presented the latest scientific findings on the health benefits of olive oil and the Mediterranean diet.

The U.S. News & World Report's overview of the Mediterranean diet, which they've ranked as one of the best diets this year (#1 in several categories).

A very good overview of the Greek Mediterranean diet and its health benefits, published in 2010.

Eating a Mediterranean diet may protect people from some of the harm of long-term exposure to air pollution, and reduce their risk of dying from heart attacks, stroke and other causes of death, according to new research.

Argues that “the Mediterranean diet is a fabulous way to eat, not just because it’s nutritious and health-promoting, but because it simply tastes good,” explains the health benefits of various elements of the diet, and includes 2 recipes.

It seems to be both.

The article abstract available here provides a good, concise overview of a 1995 article introducing the Mediterranean food pyramid.

“[T]he study found that a plant-based, extra-virgin olive oil diet is cheaper than the most economical recommendations for healthy eating coming from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).”

A Spanish study comparing two groups of women 60 to 80 years old showed a far lower risk of breast cancer in those following a Mediterranean diet with added extra virgin olive oil, compared with those following a low-fat diet.

Randomized trial shows that consuming a MedDiet supplemented with extra virgin olive oil reduces invasive breast cancer by 68 percent.

Following a Mediterranean dietary pattern provides a wide range of sustained health benefits, reducing the risk and aiding in treatment of type 2 diabetes.

A Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra virgin olive oil is a promising dietary intervention to reduce age-related cognitive decline including Alzheimer's, dementia, and mild cognitive impairment.

Oldways provides concise summaries of 13 scientific studies offering evidence that the Mediterranean diet can help brain health.

A low-carb Mediterranean diet delays medication use and results in higher rate of remission in type 2 diabetes compared to low-fat diet.

“Researchers found that people whose diets were rich in olive oil and nuts lost more weight than those on low-fat regime.”

The Telegraph’s May 2016 summary of the latest in British nutrition advice.

Discusses a recent study suggesting the Mediterranean diet has "a 'powerful' effect, cutting deaths from all causes" in "people who have already suffered from cardiovascular disease" as well as in the general population, and compares the effect of statins.

"A new Australian study confirms that the Mediterranean Diet improves brain function, slows cognitive decline, and reduces the risk of Alzheimer's."

"The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and consumption of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) has been shown to be beneficial for numerous cancers including breast cancer, bladder cancer, brain cancer, prostate cancer, and now two recent studies report the MedDiet may play a role in reducing risk of colorectal cancer."

"A Mediterranean diet decreases weight, inflammation and cartilage degradation in osteoarthritis sufferers."

"A new study shows that older people who followed a Mediterranean diet retained more brain volume over a three-year period than those who did not follow the diet as closely."

A recent review of scientific studies found that olive oil was one of the foods that can "help alleviate the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. The authors determined the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) was one of the eating plans that are beneficial for this condition," since most of the helpful foods they pinpointed are part of the MedDiet.

As Mary West writes, “A Mediterranean diet, rich in unsaturated fats and low in carbohydrates, was a more effective strategy than an iso-caloric low-fat diet to dramatically reverse morbid fat storage sites” in a recent clinical trial.

In a University of South Australia study, "Researchers found that consuming a Mediterranean diet rich in vegetables, legumes, fruit, nuts, fish oil and extra virgin olive oil reduced depression and improved quality of life."

"A new study suggests that women who ate a diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables, fish, high-quality olive oil, whole grains and legumes and low in red meat increased their chances of getting pregnant and achieving a live birth by 65-68 percent."

"A study found adherence to the Mediterranean diet helps protect women from some of the harmful health consequences of menopause."

That is the Mediterranean diet, which is also associated with many other health benefits that are mentioned in this unusually good, clear, in-depth article.

"A new study has shown the cost-effectiveness of the Mediterranean diet."

"A new study suggested that a nutritious diet with healthy fat is more beneficial to the heart than a low-fat diet."

Mary West quotes Céline Phan: “We cannot assume from this observational study that following the MedDiet will reduce the risk of psoriasis; however, it highlights an inverse association between the MedDiet and the severity of the disease."

"A new study in the U.K. suggests the Mediterranean diet may be particularly protective of stroke in women over 40, regardless of whether they take hormone replacement therapy or have experienced menopause."

An anti-inflammatory Mediterranean diet is associated with a much lower risk of depression than an unhealthy, sugary diet.

"A new study found eating a diet plentiful in fruit, vegetables and fatty fish, such as the Mediterranean diet, can help protect from an eye disease that erodes central vision."

"Illinois researchers discover nutrients from fatty fish, whole grains, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables work synergistically to enhance brain health."

As Mary West writes for Olive Oil Times, "Consuming a minimum of 25 to 29 grams of fiber from Mediterranean diet plant foods is significantly tied to better health and longevity, including a lower ... risk of diabetes."

"New research suggests an inverse relationship exists between following the Mediterranean diet and the incidence of bladder cancer."

"The study showed that pregnant women following a Mediterranean diet benefited from less pregnancy-related weight gain and a lowered risk of developing gestational diabetes."

"The main result of the study is that cooking vegetables with extra virgin olive oil favors the bioactive compounds, such as carotenoids and polyphenols that are present in vegetables we find in sofrito, to move to the olive oil, which enables the absorption and bioactivity of these compounds."

This article discusses many of the benefits of the Mediterranean diet and one of its key components, extra virgin olive oil, for our mental and physical health.

"Some of the most common effects of aging on cognitive abilities may be curtailed by adhering to the Mediterranean diet, according to a new study published in Clinical Nutrition."

No. "People don’t get fat because they eat too much, consuming more calories than they expend, but because the carbohydrates in their diets—both the quantity of carbohydrates and their quality—establish a hormonal milieu that fosters the accumulation of excess fat."

"People who adhere to a Mediterranean lifestyle — which includes a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; healthy eating habits like limiting added salts and sugars; and habits promoting adequate rest, physical activity, and socialization — have a lower risk of all-cause and cancer mortality, according to a new study."

"The Mediterranean diet's antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects and its role in maintaining beneficial microorganisms are linked with positive oral health outcomes."