Out of the 3 million tons of olive oil consumed annually around the globe, people in Greece and Spain eat the most — 395 ounces and 391 ounces per person, respectively. That’s more than an ounce a day. 

In the U.S., people consume on average around 33 ounces a year — less than one-tenth of an ounce daily.

Spain also is a Mediterranean country, where fish is a favorite food. There, residents consume 93 pounds per year; in the U.S., it's a paltry 48 pounds.

If we want to reap the benefits of a Mediterranean diet — and there are many — we're going to have to consume more extra-virgin olive oil and vegetables, limit alcohol to a glass of wine or two, eat more fish, and eliminate highly processed foods.

According to two new studies, doing that will transform women's heart health and be a major help in preventing prostate cancer, as well as speeding up recovery after radiation treatment for prostate cancer.

A study in the journal Heart found that women who consistently enjoy a Mediterranean-style diet cut their risk for cardiovascular disease by 24% compared to women who don't eat those foods.

Another study, in the journal Cancers, found that the Mediterranean diet's delivery of a good dose of lutein, lycopene, alpha-carotene, and selenium is what helps men avoid and recover from prostate cancer and its treatment. The best food sources: tomatoes, melons, papayas, grapes, peaches, watermelons, white meat, fish, shellfish, and nuts.

Need recipe ideas? Check out the "What to Cook When Cookbook."