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The traditional Mediterranean diet meets all the demands of the recommended diet for people with diabetes, who are also at higher risk from coronary heart disease Carbohydrates are mainly eaten as fibre-rich starchy foods. They are not high in calories provided that fat or sugar are not added The fibre, particularly of wholegrain products helps to prevent constipation and reduces the risk of other disorders such as diverticulitis and irritable bowel syndrome. The consumption of olive oil increases the intake of monounsaturated fatty acids and at the same time ensures an appropriate intake of the essential polyunsaturated fatty acids. Coronary heart disease Monounsaturated fatty acids, when the predominant fat in the diet, reduce total and LDL cholesterol concentrations without reducing HDL levels, thus improving the serum lipid profile and helping to prevent hyperlipidaemia. Because of its antioxidant and high MUFA content, olive oil also appears to protect against LDL oxidation and therefore reduces the uptake of LDL into the artery wall and the formation of fatty streaks.