The Mediterranean diet has been found to be rich in protein and fiber content. This is because it contains large portions of vegetables and fruits as well as the other items mentioned above. Fruits and vegetables are sources of antioxidants, all of which work towards preventing heart disease.

Other Ingredients

Besides these key ingredients, there are also other food items that make the Mediterranean diet effective against cardiovascular diseases.

Unprocessed foods are the most healthy

It stresses the need to consume foods that have been very nominally processed. The stress is on eating fresh food as much as possible. The diet also encourages consumption of dairy products, but in moderation. The quantity prescribed is usually low to medium.

The Mediterranean diet also encourages minimal consumption of red meat as well as poultry products.

More on the Mediterranean Diet

As with most successful items, the Mediterranean diet too has its fair share of cynics. Researchers have discovered that individual items of the Mediterranean diet do not really contribute too much to good health. It is only when all of them are taken in a combination that the results are there for us to see.

There is another school of thought that says the reason for reduced occurrence of cardiovascular disease among people of the Mediterranean countries is also the increased physical activity they indulge in compared to their fellow European and American counterparts.

People from this region are found to be doing more physical exercises such as walking and cycling, than their counterparts in other parts of Europe and also America.