The Scientist Behind the Mediterranean Diet : EP.2

The story of how Ancel Keys discovered the concept of the Mediterranean Diet began in 1951, when he traveled to Rome, Italy, as a representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to attend an international conference on nutrition.

During the meeting, Keys made a remark that would change the course of nutritional science:

Perhaps we Americans are not suffering from a lack of food but rather from too much of something.

This statement reflected his sharp insight. At that time, statistical data from 1951 revealed that over 50% of deaths among middle-aged American men were caused by cardiovascular disease (CVD). Troubled by this, Keys began to investigate whether dietary fats, particularly saturated fats from meat and dairy products, might be the hidden cause behind this health crisis.

The Link Between Diet and Heart Disease

Through extensive research and blood analysis, Keys discovered striking differences between populations. The blood samples of Americans showed high cholesterol levels, while those from residents of Naples, Italy, revealed significantly lower cholesterol levels.

After years of continued study, Keys confirmed that saturated fat was the key dietary factor contributing to heart disease. He observed that countries with simple diets emphasizing vegetables, fruits, pasta, grains, and olive oil such as those in the Mediterranean region, had remarkably low rates of heart disease.

In contrast, countries like the United States and Finland, where people consumed high amounts of animal fat and dairy, had heart disease rates up to ten times higher than Mediterranean nations.

This groundbreaking discovery revolutionized the fields of medicine and nutrition, marking the beginning of a heart-healthy dietary model that remains influential to this day the Mediterranean Diet, now recognized as one of the healthiest and most sustainable diets in the world.

Bringing Science to the Public

To make his research accessible and practical for everyday people, Ancel Keys and his wife Margaret Keys co-authored three books on nutrition and health. Two of them became international bestsellers:

• Eat Well and Stay Well (1959)
• How to Eat Well and Stay Well the Mediterranean Way (1975)

These books popularized the concept of the Mediterranean Diet worldwide, inspiring millions to embrace a healthier, more balanced lifestyle based on simple, wholesome eating.

Life in Pioppi The Heart of the Mediterranean

With the royalties from their books, the couple built a seaside home called Minnelea in the small village of Pioppi, located in the Cilento region of southern Italy. There, they lived a peaceful and simple life, continuing their research on food and health.

Over time, Pioppi became known as the symbolic birthplace of Mediterranean food culture and is now home to the Museum of the Mediterranean Diet, which preserves historical documents, photographs, and films that chronicle the story of Keyss scientific and cultural legacy.

Legacy and Global Recognition

Ancel Keyss work and way of life not only inspired generations of nutritionists and medical researchers but also embodied his belief that:

Good food nourishes not only the body, but also the mind and the culture of humanity.

He was the first scientist to advocate, with strong scientific evidence, the health benefits of the Mediterranean Diet and its ability to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

His research and influence earned global recognition. In 1961, Ancel Keys appeared on the cover of TIME Magazine one of the highest honors for a scientist of his era.

His portrait on the cover was more than a tribute; it symbolized a turning point in human understanding the moment when the world realized that food affects not just hunger, but also heart health and human longevity.

Ancel Keys lived to the age of 100, passing away peacefully on November 20, 2004.