Mediterranean diet: Nonna knows best

The New England Journal of Medicine confirms what Italian-Americans knew all along: Nonna was right.

Greek grandmas were, too. Likewise, Turkish, Croatian, southern French and all advocates of the Mediterranean diet, rich in olive oil, vegetables, fruits, nuts, fish and some wine, too.

The Journal reported a major five-year study that underscored how  the number of heart attacks and strokes could drop by 30 percent when diets emphasized the foods commonly used in the Mediterranean region.

You can participate in the good news at a lot of flavorful Long Island restaurants. Here are five to begin.

And Massapequa Park's Ephesus, named for the ancient city of the Greeks, Romans, Persians, Ottomans and tourists, gives a Turkish taste of the Mediterranean. Try chargrilled eggplant, ground chicken kebab, spicy vegetable salad.