A new study from Indiana University explains why.
Researchers looked at nearly 300 sets of male twins at high risk of heart disease.
Those who ate a Mediterranean style of diet had a greater heart rate variability or HRV.
HRV refers to the change in time between a person's heart beats.
The more variation of time between beats, the lower the risk of heart disease.
Therefore, the diet which is low in saturated fats seems to help keep the heart on a healthy beat.
