Mediterranean Diet Foods: Delicious & Healthy
I recently happened upon an article in the New York Times that is great news for those of us who love wine and olive oil! These and other classic Mediterranean diet foods have been linked with, among other things, a lower rate of heart attack and stroke. Some of the findings are pretty astounding. The diet can lower the risk of heart disease, for example, by about 30% according to a recent study published on the New England Journal of Medicine’s website.
But that’s not all. There’s something about the Mediterranean environment and lifestyle – I suppose it’s just the Mediterranean itself – that also seems to be therapeutic. While I can’t marshal any research to support it, I am convinced that the Mediterranean lifestyle improves one’s health — perhaps just as much as the Mediterranean diet foods. Though it is hard to put into words, anyone who has traveled to the area will know instantly what I mean: the slower pace of life; the more relaxed atmosphere; the priority placed on family, friends and good food. Just writing about it is making me eager to return!
Here’s the link to the New York Times article: Mediterranean Diet Shown to Ward Off Heart Attack and Stroke
Until now, evidence that the Mediterranean diet reduced the risk of heart disease was weak, and some experts had been skeptical that the effect of diet could be detected.