When you think of Italian food in this country, we think of pizzas and pasta, however, that is the American version not the true Mediterranean diet.

This diet has seven basis elements, Olive Oil (good fat), garlic, fresh vegetables (mostly leafy green), and fish. Good Carbs, like whole semolina pasta, barley, Italian rice and polenta (corn meal) are used as the starches instead of white potatoes. As a matter of fact white potatoes are used to make Gnocchi, a potato dumpling, mixed with good yellow not white flour semolina, which makes the flour easy to digest.

Wine use to be homemade without the citrates or sulphates of today, to insure proper ingestion with your food.

And last but not least, lemons were used in almost everything, including squeezing some over your steak. That’s right steak. Red meat was used at a maximum of twice a week and only with an appetizer of antipasti, (before pasta), with mixed fresh and marinated vegetables, and of course a glass of Red wine.

These two factors, wine and lemon virtually eat up the fat content in your digestive processes and the polyphenols and acid help with a combination of a healing detergent action in the intestines.

If there is a connection between your stomach, digestion, and heart disease in your family, you need to practice these food combinations, and treat for a Hiatal Hernia.

The hiatal hernia and diaphragm connection can cause Vagus Nerve Dysfunction, which can impair digestion and interfere with proper heartbeat and heart function. Treatment for this nuisance by using the seven basic’s above along with yogurt can help the problem, improve digestion, relieve the diaphragm spasm, and free the vagus nerve.