A Mediterranean Approach to Flavorful Living

Health and Taste Benefits Earn Herbs and Spices a Spot in Latest Diet Pyramid

HUNT VALLEY, Md., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Warmth and passion have lured people
to the sunny Mediterranean for centuries. Rich flavors, the promise of health
and vitality and a lifestyle that celebrates friends and family around the
table have attracted many chefs, nutritionists and health-minded Americans to
the Mediterranean Diet since it was introduced to the United States in the
1990s.

Recently, the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid was updated to showcase the role of
herbs and spices, placing them at the heart of every meal for the flavor and
health-promoting antioxidants they provide.

"Updating the pyramid to emphasize herbs and spices was an easy choice,
considering the role they play in the flavor profile of Mediterranean
cuisines," said K. Dun Gifford, President of Oldways, a nonprofit food issues
think tank. "There is also a growing body of research linking herbs and
spices, and their high levels of antioxidants, with an array of promising
health benefits."

Exploring the flavors of the Mediterranean can be as simple as opening the
spice cabinet. Familiar favorites like Rosemary, Oregano, Thyme and Red
Pepper/Paprika are mainstays in Mediterranean cuisines. These herbs and spices
are also part of the group of Super Spices, highlighted by McCormick for their
high levels of antioxidants - as impressive as some of today's "super foods,"
like colorful berries and leafy green vegetables. For example, just one-half
teaspoon of oregano has as many antioxidants as three cups of fresh
spinach.(1) Since dried herbs and spices no longer contain the water of fresh
produce, they offer a big antioxidant punch in a very compact package.

Savor the Flavors of the Mediterranean - No Passport Required
The Mediterranean way of eating epitomizes the rich culture and cuisine of the
nations surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, including Spain, France, Italy,
Greece, Morocco and others. It encourages eating a variety of fresh foods
including:
-- Fruits and vegetables such as citrus, grapes, pomegranates, garlic,
eggplant and broccoli
-- Legumes such as beans, peas and peanuts
-- Whole grains such as brown rice, whole wheat flour and bulgur
-- Healthier fats like those found in olive oil, nuts like almonds and
walnuts, and seafood

-- Moderate amounts of red wine

It's easy to incorporate herbs and spices into the bountiful flavors of the
Mediterranean with simple tips like these:
-- For a Greek vinaigrette dressing, stir 1/2 teaspoon Oregano Leaves and
1
to 2 tablespoons reduced fat feta cheese into 1/2 cup bottled
vinaigrette dressing.
-- Thyme brings out the flavor of mushrooms. Saute 1 pound sliced
mushrooms
in 1 tablespoon olive oil. Sprinkle with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon Thyme
Leaves.

-- Make a delicious Mediterranean roasted chicken. Before roasting, brush
chicken with olive oil. Sprinkle all over with 2 teaspoons crushed
Rosemary Leaves, 1/2 teaspoon Thyme Leaves, Sea Salt and Ground Black
Pepper. Serve with lemon wedges.

Embrace the Mediterranean lifestyle by sharing a meal with family and friends
featuring flavorful and antioxidant-rich foods. Start with
Mediterranean-Spiced Artichoke Bake, a lighter version of the traditional dip,
enhanced with the addition of several Super Spices. For a satisfying main
dish, try Tomato Florentine Pasta Bake or Mediterranean-Style Stuffed Peppers.
And, Thyme and Cinnamon Poached Pears make for a healthful dessert with both
sweet and savory notes to finish the meal.

In an effort to help Americans add Mediterranean foods into daily meals,
Oldways developed the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid in 1993 to graphically
represent the lifestyle's food groups and recommendations. Herbs and spices
were incorporated in the most recent redesign of the pyramid. Visit
www.spicesforhealth.com for more recipes, tips and information about the Super
Spices.

About McCormick
With an extensive network of researchers, trend experts, chefs, home
economists, food technologists, and sensory analysts, McCormick & Company,
Inc. keeps its finger on the pulse of flavor. McCormick was founded in 1889 in
Baltimore, Maryland. Today it is a global leader in the sale of spices, herbs
and seasonings. McCormick sources high quality ingredients from far-reaching
destinations to bring a world of flavors to consumers.

About Oldways
Oldways is an internationally-respected non-profit, changing the way people
eat through practical and positive programs grounded in science, traditions,
and delicious foods and drinks. It is best known for developing
consumer-friendly health-promotion tools, including the well-known
Mediterranean Diet Pyramid.

Oldways also creates and organizes a wide variety of other educational
activities, conferences and materials about healthy eating, drinking,
lifestyle and the traditional pleasures of the table. Its educational programs
are for consumers, scientists, the food industry, health professionals, chefs,
journalists and policy makers.

(1) Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) of Selected Foods - 2007,
Nutrient Data Laboratory USDA, November 2007,
www.ars.usda.gov/nutrientdata/ORAC.

SOURCE McCormick & Company, Inc.

Maureen Waters, +1-312-988-2385, mwaters@webershandwick.com, for McCormick &
Company, Inc.; or Laurie Harrsen of McCormick & Company, Inc.,
+1-410-527-8753, laurie_harrsen@mccormick.com