Introduction

Over the course of the past decade, more and more people in different parts of the world have become aware of the Mediterranean diet regimen. Because the Mediterranean diet has been gaining attention internationally in recent years, many men and women have concluded that the Mediterranean diet is a newly developed dietary program.

In reality, the Mediterranean diet is of ancient origin. The Mediterranean diet scheme has been followed by people who live in the region of the Mediterranean Sea for over two thousand years.

The Birth of the Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean diet in the substantial form that it is in today really had its origins well over two thousand years ago. The Mediterranean diet coalesced in about the Fourth Century BC. During this time period, the people of the Roman Republic and of other nation-states located in and around the Mediterranean region began subsisting upon low fat fish, fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

The principle ingredient in all cooked food was olive oil. As a consequence, the diet common to people in this region 2,500 years ago was very similar to the Mediterranean diet regimen of the 21st century.

The Early Spread of the Mediterranean Diet

Throughout the period of the Roman Empire and Roman Republic, the Mediterranean diet spread throughout the regions that were under Roman rule -- representing the first time that the Mediterranean diet garnered ?international? attention.

As the Roman Empire expanded, so did the breadth of the Mediterranean diet. Throughout the Empire, people of all nationalities began to adopt the dining practices of the Mediterranean region.

Recognition of the Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet in the 20th Century

The Mediterranean diet attracted the attention of men and women in different countries around the world in the 20th century beginning in 1945. At that time, a medical doctor by the name of Ancel Keys began encouraging his own patients to follow the Mediterranean diet. Although located in the United States, the practices of Dr. Keys caught the interest of other medical professionals and nutritionists in different countries around the world.

Throughout the 20th century and on into the 21st century, researchers began to realize that the Mediterranean diet had significant health benefits, including the reduction of the risks of certain diseases including cancer, cardiovascular and heart disease, hypertension and some other ailments.

The Mediterranean Diet: The 21st Century and Beyond

With more and more men and women becoming concerned about the impact their diet has on health and longevity, a growing number of people are finding themselves attracted to the Mediterranean diet regimen. As more benefits are found to be associated with the Mediterranean diet program, even a larger number of people are expected to flock to the regimen in the coming decade.