In a study of adults in the U.K., those who adhered closely to a Mediterranean lifestyle had a 29% lower risk of all-cause mortality and a 28% lower risk of cancer mortality.

Olive oil – maybe not your mom’s – is a good first step, says Chan School’s Walter Willett. But don’t be afraid to experiment.

A newly identified “metabolic signature” can evaluate an individual’s adherence and metabolic response to the Mediterranean diet and help predict future risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to new research led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.