The Monica Project
In the 1980s the World Health Organisation began the Monica project in Europe, meticulously tracking coronary and cardiovascular diseases across Europe.
But was data from France in particular – a country with one foot in the Mediterranean basin and one in the North - that shed light on the benefits of the Mediterranean diet.
Cities in the south of France had fewer cases of cardiovascular disease than northern cities such as Lille or Strasbourg, where diets are rich in animal fats.
Data from the Monica project is still widely used by scientists today.