The Mediterranean diet is once again hailed as the secret to a longer life

Despite best efforts to kick my food obsessions into touch, read nothing  about diets or weight loss, I confess to failing - again.

But it’s hard to ignore scientists when they jump up and down claiming to have discovered the ultimate eating plan -  guaranteed to make you at to make you live to100.

And they have, apparently, and it is all based on the Mediterranean way of eating.

This time we veer away from counting carbs and calories, proteins and pulses, fats and.....fenugreek..? Ok, a lame comparison, but not totally unlikely in the world of commercial nutritionism.

We turn our attention to olive oil, fresh sun-ripened tomatoes, basil and lashings of feta cheese.

Apparently, in the Sicani Mountains of Italy, where they live on such a diet, four times  as many people live to be over 100 than the national average.

Scientists also said they had a relatively low-GI diet, i.e. not too many starchy, quick-release carbohydrates.

All this is not too surprising as the one thing diet experts tend to agree on is Mediterranean is best.

The combination of lots of fruit, olive oil, lean meats and even red wine in moderation is supposed to deliver all manner of health benefits.

And the low sugar and starch content means it is also ideal for people watching their weight.

I am  a fan of the Mediterranean diet, as I think it is a “healthy” (whatever that means) way of eating, and doesn’t involve counting calories, just a bit of common sense.

And it is a pleasant way to look after your health, lots of  fresh vegetables, olive oil, lean meat and fruit, it just sounds better for you than 20 grams of soya mince and two rice crackers.

The Mediterranean diet has long been held as the key to a healthy life, I have previously written about claims that combined with exercise it is the surest   way to live longer.

According to  health advice website WebMD, it protects against heart disease, cancer, obesity, type 2 diabetes, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Cardiologist Dariush Mozaffarian said: “There are numerous health benefits, the strongest and most profound evidence is the protection of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.”

So what is the basis of this so-called wonder lifestyle?

A Mediterranean-style diet is favoured across parts of Europe and the Middle East. Similarities across the regions include eating  vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains, nuts, and olives.

Olive oil is fine along with some cheese, yogurt, fish, poultry, eggs, and wine. 

According to WebMD the diet provides thousands of micro nutrients, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber that work together to protect against chronic disease.

“Only small amounts of saturated fat, sodium, sweets, and meat are part of the plan,” they added.

“The Mediterranean lifestyle also includes leisurely dining and regular physical activity, which are an important part of the equation.”

So that’s me sorted then, although the one drawback is they say it is not just the diet  that is key to a longer life, but the lifestyle as a whole.

That includes wall-to-wall sunshine, a leisurely work life, regular tipples of red wine, and minimal worry.

Oh well, one out of five’s not bad.