In a randomized trial, participants assigned to a Mediterranean diet supplemented with either nuts or extra-virgin olive oil had a significantly lower rate of cardiovascular events at 4.8 years than participants assigned to a low-fat control diet. The traditional Mediterranean diet is characterized by a high intake of olive oil, fruit, nuts, vegetables, and cereals; a moderate intake of fish and poultry; a low intake of dairy products, red meat, processed meats, and sweets; and wine in moderation, consumed with meals. 1 In observational cohort studies 2 , 3 and a secondary prevention trial (the Lyon Diet Heart Study), 4 increasing adherence to the Mediterranean diet has been consistently beneficial with respect to cardiovascular risk. 2 – 4 A systematic review ranked the Mediterranean diet as the most likely dietary model to provide protection against coronary heart disease. 5 Small clinical trials have uncovered . . .