For Heart Health, Try the Mediterranean Diet

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The Mediterranean diet is getting some good press these days. This is a diet that originated in European countries Italy and Greece. The diet consists of fish, olive oil, whole grains and plenty of fruits and vegetables. Meat and poultry are not consumed regularly, and neither is dairy, although they are not prohibited in small amounts. This diet is thought to reduce risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure, obesity and inflammation. What’s interesting about the Mediterranean diet is that it contains wine, usually consumed with a meal. Wine, in moderation, has been shown to have some benefits because of the component in it called resveratrol. Resveratrol improves heart health, and can lessen the effects of saturated fat.

Regularly consuming olive oil that is present in this diet has been shown in one study to improve blood flow through arteries. This is because of the phenolic compounds in the oil, especially extra virgin olive oil. It can be used in cooking, to flavor vegetables, or to put on bread (whole grain is best). It’s clear that switching to this type of diet may be beneficial if you are overweight or have heart disease, and the general population could benefit as well. Make sure not to eat many foods high in saturated fat such as butter or some cheeses, because too much saturated fat has been linked to heart disease. If you’re looking for a new way of eating for the new year, give the Mediterranean diet a try.