Photos Of Celebrities Over 40 Who Swear By The Mediterranean Diet

When you reach age 40, your body starts behaving differently. You may start to lose around a half-inch of height each decade. You may also find it harder to keep belly fat from accumulating, whether you're a woman (in which case it might be associated with menopause) or a man. Ultimately, it's tough getting older, especially when your normal eating behavior and exercise plans just don't produce the same results as they once did. Unsurprisingly, some celebrities over 50 have admitted to Ozempic and GLP-1 use to combat weight gain, metabolism, and hormone-related frustrations. However, GLP-1s aren't the only solution to reduce the effects of normal aging. 

Many stars have embraced the Mediterranean diet, a lifestyle diet popular in cultures that developed around the Mediterranean Sea, to turn back the hands of time. The diet strictly limits sugary foods, meats, and dairy; some of the foods you should stick to if you're on the Mediterranean diet include olive oil, leafy green vegetables, fish, seeds, whole grains, and nuts. 

A 2024 study in JAMA Network found a connection between women above 45 years of age who adhered to a Mediterranean diet and a longer lifespan. Meanwhile, a 2019 review in Circulation Research found that the Mediterranean diet may actually be the best diet for heart health. The following Hollywood A-listers who adhere to the Mediterranean diet would certainly appreciate those findings.

At his heaviest, "Roseanne" actor John Goodman weighed 392 pounds, according to the New York Post. Yet he was able to lose 200 pounds — slowly and deliberately — in part due to moving toward the Mediterranean diet. Goodman's personal trainer commented on Goodman's success with the diet, noting that "it's been an ongoing process" (per New York Post). Goodman, who is in his 70s, also attributed his weight loss to a shift in his eating habits. In an AARP interview, he stated, "It was basically just portion control, and 'I don't need [to eat] it.'"

A major advantage to the Mediterranean diet is its adaptability: Since it's not a strict diet with specific parameters, it can be personalized. That's what Christie Brinkley's done, turning it into more of a "flexitarian" style of eating (via Woman's World).

According to Business Insider, Brinkley prioritizes vegetables, grains, olive oil, and other staples of a Mediterranean diet. However, she's been known to break the rules a bit: In an interview with The Cut, Brinkey (who is in her 70s) described her diet is "sort-of-ish vegan," adding that she occasionally enjoys a pizza slice or some mozzarella cheese.

Another celebrity Mediterranean diet advocate is Ryan Seacrest, describing it as "really just eating smart foods — simple — but you like it" (per People). Seacrest, who is in his 50s, even starts his day with a Mediterranean diet staple: "I have a shot of olive oil in the morning before my coffee every day."

His mother seems to be into the olive oil drinking trend, too. A 2025 Instagram post featured the two of them shopping, captioned, "Restocked for mom's morning routine: a shot of extra virgin olive oil and a spoonful of honey."

Believe or not, Cameron Diaz is in her 50s. And as she shared in her book "The Longevity Book," she sticks to the Mediterranean diet to stay in shape as she continues to age.

Diaz mostly fills her diet with whole grains, proteins, and fresh produce, and particularly enjoys brown rice couscous. However, she also gives herself some wiggle room: Around 20% of what she eats on a given day may not be standard Mediterranean diet fare (think burgers or burritos).

In 2022, fitness expert Jillian Michaels uploaded a Facebook video to express her support for the Mediterranean diet. In the video, Michaels (who is now in her 50s) said that while she didn't normally endorse lifestyle diets, she found the Mediterranean diet to be "awesome." She further explained that the reason for her enthusiasm was partially its ability to help improve people's cognitive health. A 2023 study in BMC Medicine showed that eating a Mediterranean diet could reduce a person's risk of dementia by 23%.

"I'm in the best shape of my life in my 40s," Candace Cameron Bure told EatingWell in 2020, which the "Fuller House" alum credited to working out, getting enough sleep, and, unsurprisingly, eating the right foods. When asked about what she liked to eat, Bure mentioned fish, vegetables, and whole grains, all of which are typical Mediterranean diet staples (via People). Nowadays, Bure, who is in her 50s, continues to exercise regularly and be mindful of what she eats (per Us Weekly).

In her own words, Gal Gadot is "all about the Mediterranean diet" — not just eating it, but preparing it as well (via Shape). Her Middle Eastern ancestry may have played a large part in how comfortable she is with this kind of lifestyle.

To stay on track with her diet, Gadot makes sure that between 30% and 40% of her meal ingredients are vegetables. However, she avoids being too hard on herself. "I don't restrict myself, I can eat everything," she told Harper's Bazaar in 2015.