About 55 years ago, two doctors discovered something unusual about the people of Roseto, a small town in northeastern Pennsylvania's slate country. Heart disease was rare. So was early death. The people seemed to live forever ... well, at least years and years past the national average. The doctors were confused.

The men mostly worked in the slate quarries, inhaling rock dust and toxic gases. Many smoked Parodis, those anisette-soaked cigars that look like blackened, arthritic fingers. The town diet was high in cholesterol and in carbohydrates. Lots of artery-clogging fatty and cured meats (sausage, salami and prosciutto) and soft cheese (mozzarella, provolone and ricotta). And pasta, pasta, pasta.