研究發現 地中海飲食或僅對富人有效

The Mediterranean diet is well known for its heart-healthy effects. It even sounds healthful: lots of fruits and veggies, whole grain and legumes. Plus olive oil, a bit of red wine. And fish and poultry instead of red meat.
地中海式飲食因有益於心臟健康而聞名。這種飲食聽上去就很健康：大量水果和蔬菜，全穀物和豆類食物。再加上橄欖油和一點兒紅酒。以及魚肉和家禽肉，而不是紅肉。

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.
現在，意大利的一項研究證實，如果你遵循這種食譜，你患心血管疾病的風險的確會降低。但需要注意的是：似乎只有你經濟富裕或受過良好教育，這種好處纔會體現出來。

The finding is in the International Journal of Epidemiology.
這項研究結果發表在《國際流行病學雜誌》上。

Researchers tracked 19,000 men and women living in southern Italy during a four-year interval.
研究人員對居住在意大利南部的1.9萬名男女進行了爲期四年的跟蹤調查。

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.
在有效控制吸菸和鍛鍊等愛好的情況下，研究小組發現，那些嚴格遵循地中海飲食的志願者在對抗心臟疾病時享有更強的保護，但前提是他們接受過大學教育或年收入超過4萬歐元（約合4.7萬美元）。

The scientists think that higher-income, educated individuals tend to prepare vegetables in healthier ways -- perhaps preserving more vitamins and antioxidants.
科學家認爲，收入高、受過良好教育的人傾向於以更健康的方式烹調蔬菜，也許這種方式保留了更多的維生素和抗氧化劑。

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.
他們也喜歡魚肉和全麥麪包，也會多吃有機蔬菜。也許他們只是有能力買得起更高質量的食物。比如，更優質的橄欖油。

"You can buy the two-to three-euro bottle or you can have a 10-euro bottle." study author Marialaura Bonaccio, an epidemiologist. "Probably these two products Probably these two bottles are different in their nutritional contents -- in the context for example of polyphenols or other nutritional compounds."
該研究的作者、流行病學家瑪麗亞勞拉·伯納西奧說道：“你可以買兩三歐元一瓶的橄欖油，也可以買10歐元一瓶的橄欖油。可能這兩種產品在營養成分上--比如多酚或其它營養化合物，會有所不同。”

Seems that the Mediterranean diet includes few foods that we consider rich. But to get the full benefits, it sure helps if you are.
看起來地中海飲食很少有我們認爲油膩的食物。不過如果你很富有，那它會幫助你得到全部益處。