There's not one specific component that makes a MediterrAsian way of living so healthy, it's really a combination of many factors that work hand-in-hand to promote good health.

By eating lots of plant-based foods such as vegetables, grains, fruits, legumes and nuts you're providing your body with a rich supply of vitamins and minerals as well as antioxidants, phytochemicals and dietary fiber. These compounds all have health-promoting and disease-fighting capabilities.

Unsaturated fats like olive oil and peanut oil improve cholesterol levels and help lower blood pressure.

Fish is a great source of high-quality protein (which is used by your body for growth and repair) and valuable vitamins and minerals. And oily-fleshed fish (which are a prominent feature of MediterrAsian eating) contain high amounts of omega-3 fat which has a myriad of health benefits in its own right (click here to learn more).

Regular moderate physical activity helps you stay in shape and lowers your risk of stroke, heart attack, diabetes and osteoporosis.

Drinking alcohol regularly in moderation boosts good HDL cholesterol in your blood, thus reducing the risk of heart disease.

Having an optimistic attitude towards life and setting aside time to physically and emotionally relax each day helps keep stress in check, and that's important because too much emotional stress can make an impact on your physical health.

And another reason that following a MediterrAsian way of living is so healthy is the fact that you're not only eating more health-giving foods, you're also eating less health-taking foods such as saturated fat and trans fat.

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