There is much talk in the science community regarding the ideal diet for the promotion of health and prevention of diseases. The Mediterranean Diet features regularly in these discussions, as, its beneficial effects as compared to other diets, is becoming more and more apparent. In 1993 the WHO, the Harvard School of Public Health and the non-profit food and health organisation Oldways, introduced the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid.

  Since then, the pyramid continues to be a well-known guide to what is now universally recognized as the "gold standard" eating pattern that promotes life-long good health. It is widely used for years by consumers, educators, and health professionals alike to implement healthier eating habits.

  The pyramid was created using the most current nutrition research to represent a healthy, traditional Mediterranean diet. It was based on the dietary traditions of Crete, Greece and southern Italy circa 1960 at a time when the rates of chronic disease among populations there were among the lowest in the world, and adult life expectancy was among the highest, even though medical services were limited.

  According to Oldways, in 2008 major updates were made to the Classic Mediterranean Diet Pyramid by the Scientific Advisory Board. These changes focused on gathering plant foods, i.e. fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, legumes, seeds, olives and olive oil, in a single group to emphasize their health benefits.