Following a Mediterranean diet could substantially extend life expectancy, according to researchers from the Maastricht University.

The Netherlands Cohort Study (NLCS) among 120.000 men and women (measured in 1986) revealed that adhering to a Mediterranean diet in combination with exercise (30 minutes per day), not smoking and having a healthy body weight (BMI between 18,5 and 25) can lead to significant health benefits for both women (up to 15 years) and men (up to 8 years).

Note that a traditional Mediterranean diet is characterised by "high intake of vegetables, fruit, legumes, nuts, fish, whole grains, monounsaturated fat instead of saturated fat, low intake of meat and alcohol consumption of approximately 0,5 to 2 glasses per day."

Source: Maastricht University