Most of us are familiar with the importance of consuming a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. It sure is healthy and nutritious! Yet, are you familiar with properties that make fruits and veggies a must in your diet? No one fruit or vegetable contains all essential vitamins and minerals needed for healthy living. Essential vitamins and minerals are obtained through the consumption of nutritious foods. Try being adventurous, adding tasty and colorful fruits and veggies to your meals! Nature offers a variety of foods with nutritional properties waiting to be discovered.

Considering a new diet plan? You may want to look into the Mediterranean diet. Along with traditional food choices in most diet plans like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, the Mediterranean diet also encourages healthy fats and moderate intake of wine. Research continues to support the benefits of consuming a Mediterranean diet on cardiovascular health. The Mayo Clinic shares insights on the Mediterranean diet noting, “A meta-analysis of more than 1.5 million healthy adults demonstrated that following a Mediterranean diet was associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular mortality as well as overall mortality.”