Food Experts Believe Mediterranean Diet Is Healthy and Sustainable

"Let Food Be Thy Medicine" is a dietary quote issued by Hippocrates in 400 B.C. Greece. His observation of thin, healthy Greeks led the physician to encourage patients to eat mainly a fresh, plant-based diet as a primary form of treatment. Ancient Romans ate a breakfast of wheat pancakes consumed with dates and honey and a midday meal of fish, meat, bread and vegetables. Oddly, the Romans did not drink beer and rarely drank milk opting instead for wine mixed with water and exotic spices.

Listed below are some popular types of diets tested over the ages:

• IMMORTALITY DIET - Luigi Cornaro was a Venetian merchant who wrote The Art of Living Long, which profoundly influenced European thinking in 1558. He recommended a high fat, low carb intake of food in small, measured quantities. Rule number one was to gain control over the foods you consume.
• DIABETIC MEAT DIET - After publishing the first diabetic diet plan, military surgeon John Rollo continued to consult with cases of diabetes and extended his success in treating the medical condition with the use of a nitrogenous diet that included high amounts of proteins, seafood and organ meats combined with fresh fruits and vegetables.
• VEGETARIAN DIET - Even in ancient times, most diets were filled with natural fruits, vegetables, grain and little to no meat. Founded in 1847, the Vegetarian Society is headquartered in Altrincham, Greater Manchester.
• GREAT MASTICATOR DIET - American health food enthusiast Horace Fletcher popularized the idea that food should be chewed thoroughly with 32 to 100 chews per mouthful to become liquefied before swallowing. A Victorian-era concept called "Fletcherism".
• DRINKING MAN'S DIET -The manly brainchild of Robert Cameron this low-carbohydrate and high-fat diet appeared in print six years prior to the Atkins diet. Alcohol, which may include a shot of whiskey or dry martini, is recommended to wash down a manly meal of steak, fish or chicken with some green beans or fresh salad with high-fat dressing.
• SCARSDALE MEDICAL DIET - According to Dr. Tarnowers' original diet, grapefruit was the only fruit you could eat when following his two-week, low-calorie regime. Although dieters still follow the diet's strict meal plans including fats, proteins, and limited carbs.
• 7 DAY COLOR DIET - Also referred to as the ROY G BIV (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet) diet, followers consumed only foods of the specified color group for the first six days and, on the seventh day, foods containing all colors. Artist Mindy Weisel's book utilizes principles of "Savor the Spectrum" by the National Cancer Institute.
• MEDITERRANEAN DIET - With emphasis on consuming fruits, vegetables, olive oil, fish and other healthy fare, the Mediterranean Diet is considered by food experts to be eminently sensible. Although it is rooted in ancient times, it is one of the most popular diet plans with today's dieters.

The ancient Greeks recognized that people who were very fat were more apt to die at an earlier age than those who ate a plant-based diet and were thin. If you are concerned about losing weight and keeping it off, focus on all the things you can gain by following a sensible menu plan that is based on food-science rather than accepting the "yo-yo effect" associated with most fad diets. A positive mindset and a personalized diet plan are the right tools to get you closer to your goals.