There's definitely something in the water over there in the Mediterranean. They crank out killer vinos, cultivate prime olive oil, and maintain an eating plan so iconically healthy (and delish) that the Mediterranean diet was just named the best diet of 2019.

But the Mediterranean diet, which is modeled after the eating habits of the Italians and Greeks, isn't anything new. It's been around since the 1960s, and has since been shown to lower a person's risk of heart disease and cancer, while also slowing down aging. But what makes the Mediterranean diet such a winner is that it's really less of a diet and more of a "style of eating," Cara Harbstreet, RD of Street Smart Nutrition previously told Women's Health.

The goal? Consume as many (fresh!) whole foods as possible—fish, poultry, veggies, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and beans—and nix processed meats, refined grains, and added sugars.

Crack open these 12 best-selling, nutritionist-approved Mediterranean diet cookbooks (and a bottle of red!) to start reaping the pros of this coastal cuisine.

