Wendy:What has research pointed to as the reason why people in the Mediterranean have lower heart disease?
Dr. Giugliano: There are several factors why peoples in these regions enjoy a lower level of heart disease than, say, the United States. Diet is one of the more influencing factors.
We should abandon the reductionistic approach that concentrates upon any single element or food in the diet, and embrace a holistic approach that considers dietary practices as a whole. It is not by chance that the American Heart Association admits the benefits of a Mediterranean-style diet on cardiovascular disease beyond the cholesterol reduction aspect.
The Exercise Factor
Wendy:How does exercise, walking, and physical activity enter into the "recipe" for the Mediterranean diet and health?Dr. Giugliano: Physical activity is an important component of the "recipe" too. Consider that the dietary pattern we are alluding to is based on food patterns typical in many regions in Greece and southern Italy in the early 1960s, within the frame of a lifestyle that mirrored social and cultural habits of a very physically active people. The Mediterranean diet seems to connote a particularly healthy lifestyle rather than a dietary inclination.
One of the Thirteen Commandments of the Mediterranean Diet, from my book, The Mediterranean Diet, Origins and Mythsis to be physically active and adopt an active lifestyle. Should your job increase a sedentary lifestyle, take a daily walk for about an hour or take up an activity equal to at least one hour of exercise per week that uses the whole body.
Next: Mediterranean Diet Lowers Heart Disease
Mediterranean Diet
Red Wine and Protein Factors
About the book and author
