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Today's Mediterranean diet leans on olive oil, veggies and fish—But the ancients mainly ate bread

science

Phys.org reports that the Mediterranean diet we think of today—featuring fresh vegetables, olive oil, and grilled fish—bears little resemblance to what ancient Greeks and Romans actually ate. The ancients built their diets primarily around bread and cereals rather than produce and seafood. A Roman emperor named Julian once called bread the food that was 'thought to be the most nourishing,' reflecting how central grain-based foods were to ancient Mediterranean life.

Source: https://phys.org/news/2026-08-today-mediterranean-diet-ol...

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