The secret to eating a healthier diet that incorporates more foods containing vitamins and minerals may be to simply read the newspaper more often. A new study has found that individuals who are better informed tend to eat healthier.

In particular, the Italian researchers who conducted the study found that individuals who consume various types of media are more likely to follow a Mediterranean diet, which relies mostly on fruits, vegetables and fish, providing adequate amounts of many vitamins and omega-3s.

For the study, researchers examined the diet and lifestyle habits of people throughout the south of Italy, looking for factors that may be associated with healthy eating. They found that people who are more informed by the internet, TV and newspapers are more likely to eat a healthy diet.

The researchers said their findings run somewhat counter to popular conceptions of people who watch a lot of TV or spend time on the internet. These media tend to advertise less healthy foods, and due to the sedentary nature of such activities, many heavy TV and internet users engage in a lot of unhealthy snacking. Therefore, it was thought these people would be less healthy.

However, the study shows that there is some benefit to being more informed when it comes to matters of nutrition.