Finally, there is some good news for people who are interested in reducing their risk of heart attack and stroke through dieting. Dr. Oscar Franco of the Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands has come up with an idea that's sure to please even the most finicky dieter.

Dr. Franco recognized that there are a variety of foods, including wine, fish, fruits, and vegetables, that have proven to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. His premise - what if all these foods were combined into one meal? Would this combination, which he named the Polymeal, prove even more effective than consuming individual items from this list of foods.

Using a mathematical model, Dr. Franco's team of researchers calculated just how much the combining of these groups would reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. They then created the Polymeal formula which consists of wine, fish, dark chocolate, fruit and vegetables, garlic and almonds. It is recommended that this meal be eaten daily. The only exception is that fish should only be eated four times a week, and the amount of wine and chocolate should be eaten in moderation.

The research team reports that if people over 50 consume a Polymeal every day, they could reduce their risk of suffering from heart disease by 76 percent. Men who eat in this fashion should expect to live 6.6 more years and delay the onset of heart disease by nine years. Women would gain five years and delay heart problems for about eight years.

Dr. Franco's team recognizes the importance of combining healthy eating with exercise and not smoking, both of which can be contributing factors to a healthier heart.