The Mediterranean diet isn’t just one specific diet. Geographically speaking, at least 16 different countries border the Mediterranean Sea. The diets around these countries vary depending on your country, as well as the separate regions located within a country.

The many differences in economy, religion, ethnic background, culture, and production of the different agricultural products in each country creates many different types of diets. However, with all the differences, each diet that is considered Mediterranean normally has a few certain characteristics:

For starters, your diet will consist of a large consumption of potatoes, nuts, and seeds. In addition, bread, vegetables, and fruits. Secondly, olive oil is considered a crucial mono unsaturated source of fat. In addition, wine is consumed, as is eggs and other dairy products, fish, and poultry. Not much red meat is eaten.

The diets that are based off of the Mediterranean styel of diets usually contain a high percentage of calories of fat. This can lead to obesity, however less fat is consumed with this diet then of that of the normal American diet. On a positive side, more than half the calories of fat in this diet come mainly from olive oil, which does not raise blood cholesterol levels the same way that saturated fat can.

The countries around the Mediterranean sea that follow this diet have lower rates of heart disease than the United States. The rate of death is lower, as well. However, it’s unsure how much of this can be attributed to the way Mediterraneans eat, as increased physical activity may play a role as well