Veg Diet for Heart Health

A study conducted at the Cancer Research and Prevention Institute in Florence found that women who ate at least one serving of leafy vegetables daily—such as kale or spinach—were more than 40 percent less likely to develop heart disease relative to those who ate two or fewer servings each week. Additionally, women who ate three or more tablespoons of olive oil weekly were 40 percent less likely to be diagnosed with heart disease, compared to women who ingested only one tablespoon. Researchers believe antioxidants and micronutrients such as folate present in leafy vegetables and olive oil might contribute to heart health. People living the Mediterranean region have long been touted as having one of the healthiest diets in the world.