Olive oil is at the heart of the Mediterranean diet A growing library of research backs up the health benefits of an olive oil-based diet, according to British physician Dr Simon Poole. Dr Poole is an internationally renowned authority on the science and application of the Mediterranean diet and co-author of The Olive Oil Diet: Nutritional Secrets of the Original Superfood. He explains why he sees olive oil as the heart of the Mediterranean diet and how to choose a high-quality extra virgin olive oil.