Mediterranean diet 'best for healthy hearts'

Friday April 17th , 2009

People living in Turkey and other Mediterranean countries enjoy the most well-balanced diets when it comes to creating healthy hearts, a new study reveals.

A survey led by the Canadian researcher Dr Sonia Anand suggests that the Mediterranean diet, which is high in plant foods, oils and vegetables, is the world's most successful for reducing heart disease.

Dr Anand and her research team evaluated nearly 200 studies, looking at worldwide dietary patterns.

Medicine professor Dr Anand says the group's findings show that people who enjoy diets that include nuts and monounsaturated fat acids are likely to be the most healthy.

She commented: "People should focus on consuming a healthy dietary pattern, such as the Mediterranean diet, high in fruits and vegetables, and a diet low in trans fat."

Monarch Airlines recently announced that the number of British tourists travelling to Mediterranean nations like Turkey has risen as more people seek to enjoy the country's climate.