Curious about the Mediterranean diet? How to make it work for you

(BPT) - - They never counted calories, but they ate flavorful, satisfying food and drank wine with lunches and dinners. The people in countries bordering the Mediterranean have historically been known as some of the healthiest, fittest people in the world. Their diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, wholesome whole grains, and fish and lean meats has long been hailed by nutritionists and health experts as a reliable recipe for weight control and better health.

If you need further evidence of the health value of the Mediterranean Diet, consider a recent NPR report on the growth of the obesity epidemic worldwide. In that report, a professor of pediatrics and nutrition at the University of Verona linked the growth of obesity in Italy with the trend away from a traditional Mediterranean diet and toward a more American one.