A new study shows that the typical Mediterranean diet which is full of vegetables, fruit, fish and olive oil yet low in saturated fats helps people to live longer and lead healthier lives.

The study was conducted by the University of Athens Medical School and the results were published in the 'British Medical Journal.'

The study followed the health of 74,607 men over the age of 60 throughout Europe. It concluded that the Mediterranean style diet extended the life span of people by more than one year.

The men and women in the study were given a score based on different life style areas including physical activity, smoking, diet, lifestyle and medical history.

The closer the men and women adhered to the Mediterranean diet, the more points they got. The researchers found that a two point increase in diet score resulted in a reduction in mortality of approximately eight percent. A three point increase in diet score saw an 11 percent drop in mortality and a 14 percent drop in mortality resulted in a four point increase in diet score.

The best countries for maintaining a healthy Mediterranean diet were Greece and Spain. Both countries feature olive oil and a large amount of fruits and vegetables with little or no saturated fat.

So, enjoy a healthy diet and add a year to your life.