ABSTRACT
The traditional Mediterranean diet is the dietary pattern found in the olive-growing areas of the Mediterranean region since the 1960s. Although different regions in the Mediterranean Sea have their own diets, several common characteristics can be identied; most of them stem from the fact that olive oil occupies a central position in all of the regions. It is therefore legitimate to consider these diets as variants of a single entity, the Mediterranean diet. Olive oil is important not only because of its several benecial properties, but also because it allows the consumption of large quantities of vegetables in the form of cooked foods. The Mediterranean diet is characterized by high consumption of olive oil, vegetables, legumes, fruits, and unrened cereals; regular but moderate wine intake, mostly during meals; moderate consumption of sh; low consumption of meat; and low to moderate intake of dairy products (The United Nations University, 2007).
