But certain cultures around the world offer further insight with traditional diets that are not just healthy, they also protect our bodies against scourges like cancer, depression, diabetes and heart disease. Researchers believe that following such diets can lead to excellent health; making the transition, however, requires more than just adopting an Americanized version of another culture's traditional diet.
The most well-known--and perhaps most studied--of these diets hails from the Mediterranean, with its staples of extra virgin olive oil, wild greens, whole grains and herbs. Since studies of the diet began in 1980, researches keep finding powerful associations with preventing cardiovascular disease and improving longevity. Last week the British Medical Journal published the latest evidence in a study of 23,349 Grecians: Greater adherence to the diet was associated with a reduction in total mortality. (Of the 10,650 participants who followed the diet closely, 420 died of any cause. Of the 12,700 participants who were less consistent, 650 died.)
