This heart-healthy diet that you've likely never heard of works similarly to building an investment portfolio, expert says: Here's how

The Mediterranean diet and its many benefits are often touted by doctors, nutritionists and dieticians. However, a lesser-known approach to structuring your meals — the portfolio diet — offers similar heart-health benefits.

The portfolio diet was created in the early 2000s by Dr. David Jenkins, a professor in the department of nutritional sciences at the University of Toronto.

With an investment portfolio, “you’re spreading out your risks and benefits and trying to maximize your financial returns,” Jenkins told The New York Times.

Similarly, by centering foods that can lower cholesterol levels in your diet you can decrease your risk of heart disease and boost your heart health, he explained.

The staples of the portfolio diet are viscous fiber, plant-based proteins, nuts and seeds, monounsaturated fats and phytosterols, also known as plant sterols.