I’ve recently written about how nutrition can affect our long-term cognitive brain
health. One of the recommended patterns of eating to achieve this is the Mediterranean diet. This diet is typical of people who live in the Mediterranean area.
I hate to use the word “diet” with this because it isn’t something you “go on” and then
it’s over when you meet a goal. This is a long-term way of eating.
- Decrease the risk of some forms of cancer.
- Be more effective than a low-fat diet for weight loss in overweight and obese individuals.
- Improve eye health including decreasing the risk of macular degeneration.
- Decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes.
- Help manage blood pressure.
- Reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) as much as 30-60%
Changing the protein in your diet is one of the most impactful ways you can improve
your diet. Eating more fish and seafood is one of the major ways you can do this. People following the Mediterranean diet eat at least eight-ounces of fish or seafood a week. At least one of these servings should be of a high fat fish such as salmon, mackerel, anchovies, sardines or herring.
A group of nutrition and health professions from NC State University and NC Division of Public Health created a wonderful class, website and beautiful recipes that focus on the Mediterranean diet. They call it “Med Instead of Meds” because people that follow this way of eating---they call it the “Med Way”—may be able to reduce the medications they are currently taking.
If you’d like to learn more about the “Med Way”, our N.C. Cooperative Extension here in Brunswick County is offering “Med Instead of Med” classes. This series of four classes will be held at the Harper Library in Southport on Fridays August 9, 16, 23 and 30 from 10:30 a.m. till noon. These classes are free of charge and you can sign up at the library. Each week will focus on a different aspect of the Mediterranean diet and will include a food demonstration. There will be additional classes on Oak Island in September and November.
