Aspects Of The Mediterranean Diet

NETANYA, ISRAEL - FEBRUARY 22: Various types of olives are displayed for sale at a delicatessen in the local produce market February 22, 2006 in Netanya in central Israel. Olives and olive oil, a source of monounsaturated fat, which is protective against heart disease, and also a source of antioxidants including vitamin E, are staple foods in Mediterranean countries. The Mediterranean diet, a term used to broadly describe the eating habits of the people of the region, is widely believed to be responsible for the low rates of chronic heart disease in the populations of the 16 countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. (Photo by David Silverman/Getty Images)