Is the Meditrranean Diet healthier than the standard US diet?
Studies show it is. Is it the healthiest diet out there? No.
The Mediterranean Diet is healthier than the standard American diet because it contains more fruits and vegetables. Substituting olive oil for the fats found in most American diets is healthier, but if your object is to avoid heart disease, avoid olive oil and all added oils
Study Conclusions: “In terms of their effects on postprandial (after a meal) endothelial function, the beneficial components of the Mediterranean and Lyon Diet Heart Study diets appear to be the antioxidant-rich foods—vegetables, fruits, and their derivatives such as (balsamic) vinegar, and omega-3-rich fish and canola oils—not olive oil. Canola oil may share some of the unique vasoprotective properties of other omega-3-rich oils, such as fish oil. Dietary fruits, vegetables, and their products appear to provide some protection against the direct impairment in endothelial function produced by high-fat foods, including olive oil.” —
“The postprandial effects of components of the Mediterranean diet on endothelial function.” J Am Coll Cardiol 36(5):1455-60, Nov. 1, 2000. This is part of the panel discussion at the Healthy Lifestyle Expo 2007, where all the experts gathered on stage for 90 minutes to answer audience questions.
To see the full presentation on DVD, as well as seeing the full talks of all the fascinating experts, go to https://store.vegsource.com/
