The Cretan Diet: A Path to Health

What you think of as Greek food, like moussaka and souvlaki, isn't what makes

the Cretan diet the healthiest in the world. The real secret comes from what

poorer farmers on the island of Crete ate until the 1970s. A famous study in the 50s discovered

that people there had incredibly low rates of heart disease, and it was all because of their food.

Their diet is packed with plant-based foods: wild greens, beans, lentils,

and tons of seasonal vegetables. Fish is eaten in moderation, and meat is rare.

The biggest game-changer? Extra virgin olive oil is their only source of fat. No butter,

no lard. It makes up almost 40 percent of their daily calories. They eat between