Mediterranean Diet 101: What You Need to Know (2024)
Each year, U.S. News & World Report ranks the best diet plans . This year marks the seventh consecutive year that the Mediterranean diet has been ranked the best diet overall 2024. The Mediterranean diet is a healthy departure from our typical modern diet. The Mediterranean diet has been touted as being among the healthiest ways of eating since the 1950s when researchers first noticed that heart disease was uncommon in people from countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. In the years since, researchers found a Mediterranean diet reduces risks of stroke, heart disease, and certain types of cancer, and even promotes longevity. More recent studies have shown that eating a Mediterranean diet can also help with depression, dementia, and type 2 diabetes (1). Despite the numerous benefits associated with the Mediterranean diet, there are still some questions about its practicality, considering its primarily plant-based suggestions deviate from a typical American diet. Read on to learn m