This is scientific American 60 second science. I'm Christopher and Tagyatta.

The Mediterranean diet is well known for its heart healthy effects.

It even sounds healthful. Lots of fruits and veggies, whole grains and

legumes, plus olive oil, bit of red wine, and fish and poultry instead of red meat.

Now a study from Italy confirms that if you follow the diet you really can cut your risk of cardiovascular disease.

But here's the catch. The benefits seem to only occur if you're financially comfortable or well educated.

The findings in the International Journal of Epidemiology.

Researchers tracked 19,000 men and women living in southern Italy during a four-year interval.

After controlling for habits like smoking and exercise, the team found that volunteers who stuck

more closely to the diet enjoyed greater protection against heart problems,

but only if they were college educated,

or earned more than 40,000 euros a year,

or about 47,000 dollars.

The scientists think that higher income educated individuals tend to prepare veggies in healthier ways,

perhaps preserving more vitamins and antioxidants.

They also favored fish and whole-grain bread and ate more organic vegetables.

And perhaps they're simply able to afford higher quality foods,

better olive oil for example.

So you can buy the two, three euro bottle or you can have a 10 euro bottle.

Study author Maria Lauer bonacho, an epidemiologist.

Probably these two products are different in the nutritional contents in the context for example of

polyphenol other nutritional compounds.

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