Millions of people are reaping the benefits of the Mediterranean diet plan. This heart-healthy option features the food staples of the Mediterranean community: whole grains, vegetables, fruits and fish. Together with other components, this plan can reduce heart disease risk, as well as overall mortality, according to a recent analysis. The Mediterranean diet is often illustrated as a pyramid, with the suggestion that every meal be based on bans, nuts, legumes, her, seeds, grains, vegetables and other food groups.
Another emphasis with this plan is getting plenty of exercise, limiting red meat to a few times monthly, and replacing butter with olive oil and other oils which contain healthy fats. And while we may enjoy buttering our bread before we eat it, the whole grain bread of the Mediterranean region is either usually eaten plain, or dipped in olive oil.