People have developed a fascination for the Mediterranean Diet, not so much because of the weight loss argument, but because people who live along the Mediterranean coastal region have exhibited lower risks for diseases that typically beset the North American continent. In fact, when people hear about the Mediterranean Diet, they automatically think it is another weight loss program to keep unwanted pounds at bay.

It isn’t.

The diet is an outlook, an approach, a way of living. It is a colorful collection of eating and cooking habits that for some reason have proved to be a blessing for the inhabitants who live in this part of the world. And while it is not a weight loss program, it has certain characteristics that some experts have noticed resemble the US government’s dietary guidelines for the American population. What are these features? We’ll start with the most famous of all of them. Olive oil.

In fact, olive oil always comes to mind when we think “Mediterranean.” Given that olive oil is plant-based, it has minimal or zero amounts of cholesterol. It is rich in good, monounsaturated fats and because it takes kindly to flavors and spices, people from this region do not have to use enormous amounts of any other oil to cook their meals.

Another feature is a generous serving of fruits, vegetables, breads, cereals, nuts and seeds. Consumed in low to moderate amounts are fish and poultry; so is wine. Eggs are eaten at a maximum of four a week. And the most revealing feature of this diet: a typical Mediterranean day is spent walking instead of driving. Because of the people’s preference for outdoor activity with friends and family, there is very little opportunity to develop a sedentary lifestyle. Don’t pack your bags yet and catch the next plane for Greece or the south of Italy. You can enjoy the benefits of the Mediterranean Diet anywhere in the worldl.