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The Mediterranean Diet is a nutritional model based on the diet of people who live in the Mediterranean region of southern Europe and northern Africa. The diet encourages the consumption of large amounts of fruits and vegetables, olive oil and fish, while limiting red meat. It also suggests moderate alcohol consumption.

The Mediterranean Diet differs from the American Heart Association (AHA) recommended heart-healthy diet in that it allows a higher fat intake (up to 40 percent of calories coming from fat as opposed to the AHA recommended 25 to 35 percent). However, fat in the Mediterranean Diet almost always comes from olive oil and nuts – foods high in healthy monounsaturated fats and low in unhealthy saturated fats. Like the USDA recommended Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the Mediterranean Diet suggests eating large amounts of food containing antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, which have known health benefits.

The purported benefits of the Mediterranean Diet have been studied since the 1960s. Proponents maintain that adhering to the diet will reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer and help people live a quality life for longer. While the results have been encouraging, there is not enough evidence to confirm all the health benefits that are claimed of the Mediterranean Diet.