The Mediterranean diet has stood the test of time for a reason: It works
Even if you're not a fan of hummus, tabouli, or olives, it's worth giving the Mediterranean diet a chance. Why? Because when it comes to the hierarchy of healthy eating patterns, the Mediterranean diet consistently comes out on top.
In 2025, U.S. News and World Report ranked it #1 overall, as well as giving it first place as the best diet for mental health, for healthy eating, for inflammation, for gut health and for being the easiest diet to follow. It's delicious and nutritious, and consuming it is associated with a variety of health benefits. It is also easy to follow and sustainable for the long haul. And you don't need to live in a Mediterranean country or even leave home to adhere to the eponymous diet or reap its benefits.
(What foods you really need to eat to reduce inflammation.)
'It seems to be the universal love donor—it has real foods, predominantly plants, and it offers pleasure,' says David Katz, a preventive medicine specialist, past president of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, and co-author of How to Eat. 'It captures the fundamentals of whole nutrition—it takes us out of the realm of quick fixes and into the realm of lifestyle. The Mediterranean diet has worked for generations and it works for lifetimes.'
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