Sign up here for Eating the Mediterranean Way. The next class is the evening of June 21.

For over a decade, classes have been taught at Sherman Health about the Mediterranean diet and why it’s so beneficial. These are the facts:

1. Researchers have found that people living around the Mediterranean Sea have a lower incidence of heart disease and cancer.
2. Additional research (from Annals of Neurology on April 18, 2006) found that seniors who consumed a diet closely resembling the Mediterranean diet had a 40% lower risk of Alzheimer’s than those who adhered the least to the diet.

This is not a mere coincidence. There are excellent dietary lessons to be learned from eating Mediterranean. So what exactly does the diet entail, and when does the free Sherman class meet? We spoke with Cathy O’Shea, RD, LDN, Clinical Dietitian at Sherman Hospital for answers.

“The Mediterranean diet is a healthful approach to eating,” said O’Shea. It focuses on foods traditionally consumed by people living around the Mediterranean Sea. Foods that conform to the diet are full of flavor and relatively easy to prepare.

“It emphasizes unprocessed foods and includes only a small amount of meat as a seasoning rather than as the main course, so it can also be considered somewhat inexpensive.”

The diet is inspired by the dietary habits of Spain, southern Italy, southern France, Greece, and even parts of the Middle East. It can be a bit high in sodium content, so why does adherence to eating Mediterranean result in a 50% lowering of early death rates? If you’re curious about that, the monthly course at Sherman is right up your alley. And, O’Shea says, the class shows no signs of slowing down.

“We have been teaching it for about 10-12 years. We host a class every month. The times vary each month from a late morning time of 11 to 12 or an evening time of 6 to 7. Currently, we do teach the same class each month. It may benefit some people to attend again as they might pick something up they didn’t hear the first time.”

Look for one Mediterranean recipe per month right here on the Sherman Health blog.

Ready to sign up for Eating the Mediterranean Way? It’s easy! Just click here to get started or call (800) 397-9000. The next two classes are June 21 and August 13.