The Mediterranean Diet
Why is the Mediterranean Diet so famous? A European study published in the New England Journal of
Medicine in 2003 followed more than 22,000 people living in Greece and investigated their eating habits.
During the 4 years of the study, researchers found that the closer people followed the so called
"Mediterranean diet", the less likely they were to die from either heart disease or cancer.
Mediterranean diet for heart health The Mediterranean diet is a heart-healthy eating plan combining
elements of Mediterranean style cooking. If you're looking for a heart-healthy eating plan, the Mediterranean
diet might be right for you. The Mediterranean diet incorporates the basics of healthy eating, plus a
splash of flavorful olive oil and perhaps a glass of good red wine, among other components characterizing
the traditional cooking style of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. Most healthy diets include
fruits and vegetables, fish and whole grains, and limit unhealthy fats. While these fundamental parts of
a healthy diet remain tried and true, subtle variations or differences in proportions of certain foods
may make a difference in your risk of heart disease.
Benefits of the Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean eating style significantly reduces the risk
of further heart disease in individuals who had already had a heart attack. Remarkably, this benefit was
not related to any significant difference in cholesterol levels - rather other components of the diet seem
to work in concert to protect the body. Read the full article.