Food nourishes, heals, and brings joy to our body, mind, and spirit.
More than ever, we want to make sound and informed choices about what we put on our tables.
For eight consecutive years, from 2018 to 2024, the Mediterranean Diet has earned recognition as the Best Overall Diet, according to U.S. News & World Report. In 2024, it was also ranked as the #1 Best Heart-Healthy Diet, Best Diet for Bone and Joint Health, Best Diet for Diabetes, and Best Diet for Healthy Eating.
Multiple scientific studies have found that people who follow a Mediterranean diet have better measures of blood pressure and glycemic control and reduced risks of various chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, kidney disease, lung disease, Parkinson's disease, cancer, cognitive diseases, memory loss, depression as well as metabolic syndrome, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.
Based on the traditional cuisines of Greece, Italy, and other countries that border the Mediterranean Sea, the Mediterranean Diet encourages the consumption of fresh, seasonal, and local foods.
This really drives home the idea that social and cultural aspects, like communal or shared eating practices, lengthy mealtimes, resting after eating, and regular physical activity, are key features of a Mediterranean lifestyle.
For a useful graphic reference, check out the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid created by the Harvard School of Public Health, Oldways Preservation and Exchange Trust, and the World Health Organization: Link