Before going on this diet it's a good idea to know what Mediterranean food is so that you can be sure you will stick with the program.

This diet approach is heavily focused on getting you away from eating red meat so if you are a red meat lover, it may not be best for you. Mediterranean food eaters get most of their protein intake from nuts, legumes and beans and then supplement their diet with poultry, fish and eggs on a weekly basis.

While it's definitely not a vegetarian approach, the bulk of your Mediterranean food intake will come from whole grains, fruits and vegetables. These will supply your body with the energy it needs to go about your day along with vitamins, anti-oxidants and dietary fibre.

To bring up the fat content in this diet approach, you'll consume olive oil along with plenty of nuts. The fatty fish you consume a couple of times per week will also help to increase your essential fatty acid intake, which is important for good health.

The one nutrient you may have trouble getting since you will not be eating red meat is iron so it's important if you're going to follow this approach to either invest in a good iron supplement or make sure you eat plenty of other rich sources such as soybeans, spinach or fortified cereals.

Overall if you stick within the guidelines of this program it can definitely be used to help you reach optimum health.