WHY SWITCH TO THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET?
BY:MARY ELIZABETH TERZELLA It’s never too late to adopt healthy habits, such as exercising and eating a Mediterranean-style diet low on meat and dairy and rich in fish, fruits, vegetables and olive oil. Mediterranean cuisine has been found to protect against heart attack, stroke, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, and the latest research suggests adopting this diet may add years to your life-even if you are eligible for senior-citizen discounts or already suffer from heart disease. One reason eating the Mediterranean way may help you live longer, healthier and wiser: olive oil. It’s known to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and a new study suggests it may also help quell the inflammation believed to play a key role in a variety of chronic diseases. Researchers at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia discovered that olive oil contains oleocanthal, a chemical which works like ibuprofen and aspirin to block Cox-1 and Cox-2 enzymes that cause pain and inflammation. Over time
