Mediterraneans Are Healthier than Americans

          People living in Mediterranean countries are healthier than Americans. According to statistics from the World Health Organization, Mediterraneans have almost half as many deaths from cardiovascular disease as Americans. Thus, I truly believe everyone can benefit by emulating the lifestyle of the Mediterranean world.                               
                                                                                                                                                                                             

Why Did I write this  book?                                                                                                  

Many people ask me why I wrote this book. Here is the reason why:

         In the early 1990's, three of my best friends passed away at very young ages. Crushed and bewildered by these unexpected losses, I became  a voracious reader of anything published in the area of nutrition in an attempt to understand what had happened and whether these untimely deaths could have been prevented.

          As I read, it became clear to me that modern medicine does not have all the answers. Unless we take control of our bodies and practice disease prevention, we might not reach old age. Or even if we do, we might not enjoy the best possible health.

          What I read also became a wake-up call for me. I realized that not only was I ignoring many of the healthy habits I grew up with in Spain, my country of origin, but my diet could be discribed as "reckless". I ate few fruits and vegetables; my intake of saturated fat was way over the limit; and I was on the verge of becoming a sugar addict (on my trips to the supermarket my first stop was invariably the cookie and candy aisles). Basically, if I were to continue     with this diet, eventually I would have wound up in the place I feared most: the doctor's office.                                   

          As I began to realize that the secret to good health lies in how we nourish our bodies as well as in adequate physical activity and family life, I felt compelled to spread the word. I was so excited about my findings I became a full-time pest to friends and family, constantly lecturing them on what to eat or what not to eat.

         It didn't take long to realize that nobody was paying attention to me and that for people to listen to what I had to say, I would need to have a formal education. So I went back to college and became a Registered Dietitian. And now, the same way I felt driven to tell family and friends how to prevent disease, I would like to share with you, through this book, what nutrition science has proven to be a good course of action.
         
What makes this book different?
          This book is like taking the dietitian home. If you ever dreamed of spending hours with a dietitian and ask lots of questions on how to prevent , manage, and sometimes reverse heart disease, without having to pay hundreds of dollars, then “Your Heart needs the Mediterranean Diet” is a must for you. It will answer almost every question you have about how to prevent or reverse high levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and high blood pressure, three major conditions that may lead to a heart attack or a stroke.

          Your Heart Needs the Mediterranean Diet is written as a play. It is a real world story in which Al, the patient, is referred by his doctor to the dietitian because he has high cholesterol, high triglycerides and high blood pressure, three factors that put him at risk of a heart attack or a stroke. Al also has a lot of stress at work and at home.

          Through his conversations with the dietitian, chapter by chapter, he learns about:

    * Why physical activity can be a magical pill
    * The sinister connection between high blood pressure and processed foods
    * Why fruits and vegetables are so good for the heart
    * Why tomatoes are a must in the fight against disease
    * Why health authorities blame trans fats for the 21st century epidemic of
       heart disease
    * What kind of fat raises blood cholesterol
    * The healing powers of olive oil and what kind of olive oil to buy
    * How legumes can lower blood cholesterol
    * Why Mediterraneans use so much garlic
    * And much more

            Al also discovers how to improve relationships with his family, friends, and coworkers. As the sessions progress, he decreases his risk of heart disease, spends more time with his family, and reduces stress at work. Al realizes he is becoming happier and healthier by following the Mediterranean lifestyle.