The Mediterranean diet is rich in olive oil, nuts, seeds, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. It limits saturated fats and red meat. This means eating lots of the good foods and only a medium amount of fish, chicken, milk, cheese, butter, and yogurt. You should also limit yourself to only a small amount of red meat and sweets. Cooking with olive oil instead of butter or other oils is also part of this diet.

The Mediterranean diet is based on the usual foods people eat in places like Spain, Greece, and Italy. These countries are on the Mediterranean Sea. Experts found it is a healthy diet since people in this area have lower rates of heart disease than people elsewhere. Many studies of the Mediterranean diet have shown that it is a heart-healthy diet.

Be nice to your heart -- the Mediterranean diet is a great start!

Mediterranean Diet Pyramid