The people of Crete eat many plant foods that are antioxidant-rich — colorful fruits and veggies. They live on an island, so wild-caught seafood is a staple in their diet, and seafood is rich in heart-healthy nutrients. Most importantly, their diet is free of two bad fats that Americans eat, both known to raise blood cholesterol levels: saturated fats (found primarily in tropical oils and red meat) and trans fats (found in processed foods, margarine and commercial baked goodies. Trans fats are sometimes called “hydrogenated” oils on labels, and they stick to the insides of your arteries like glue and form gunk.

Mediterraneans like to drink red wine with their meals, but while alcohol may reduce heart attack risk by raising HDL levels and thinning the blood, I think it’s destructive to the liver. It also impairs your driving ability and causes uncontrollable giggling, so I think it’s better if you just drink grape juice.  The powerful antioxidants found in wine are found in the grapes’ skin and seeds anyway.