The Mediterranean diet was inspired by the lifestyle of the people who live along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. These people are known to experience less cardiovascular disease and enjoy longer lifespans.

Their diets are rich in fruits, vegetables, fish, whole grains, legumes, healthy fats like olive oil, and contain moderate amounts of alcohol.

This type of diet is also low in sweets, meats, and saturated fats like butter.

Additions like Greek yogurt, olives, garlic, goat cheese, and an occasional glass of red wine make this diet easy to stick to. Foods are baked or grilled.

Along with lowering heart disease risk and contributing to longevity, this combination of foods has been shown to protect against cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease.

An analysis of 50 studies found that the Mediterranean diet reduced the risk of metabolic syndrome, which is the cluster of conditions that sharply hikes heart disease risk.