In modern times, we've developed a lot of foods that may taste good, but aren't necessarily good for you. And North America's obesity epidemic is evidence that a lot of the foods we're eating are making us gain weight, too.

So what makes a healthy diet? Dr. Daphne Miller, author of The Jungle Effect, studied traditional diets from regions as varied as Iceland, Japan, Mexico and Crete to find out what makes them so different—and so healthy. Her findings? Traditional ways of eating work best to create healthy eating habits, help prevent many diseases now common due to the Western diet and positively affect emotional health.

Want to incorporate some of her learnings in your own eating habits? Here are five easy tips from The Jungle Effect to help you eat healthier and live better, today.