State-of-the-Art Teaching Kitchen in Baldwin County
Images courtesy of USA Health Mapp Family Campus
When Louis and Melinda Mapp donated the land on the corner of
Highways 104 and 181 in Fairhope, they had a vision for a facility that would
deliver the most advanced medical care to adults and children, along with a
center that would promote health and wellness for the community.
That vision is now a reality in the USA Health Mapp Family Campus.
On the third floor of its medical office building is a state-of-the-art
teaching kitchen that allows professional instructors in medicine and culinary
arts to offer hands-on cooking classes and demonstrations.
Research indicates that engaging participants in this manner
results in sustained reductions in blood pressure, weight, waist circumference
and fat levels, according to Global
Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health, a journal dedicated to
evidence-based research and multidisciplinary therapeutic approaches that
promote whole-person health. Additional clinical trials also suggest that
nutrition education, combined with hands-on instruction, can positively impact
medical indicators such as blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose levels and BMI,
as well as overall health outcomes.
The USA Integrative Health and Wellness program now has cooking
classes available for area residents to learn how to make affordable, tasty and
healthy food. These classes present the benefits of “plant-forward” diets, a
style of cooking and eating that emphasizes the consumption of vegetables,
fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds and legumes, but is not strictly limited to
them. Meat can still be part of the diet, but it’s recommended in lower
quantities in relation to plant-based options.
“A plant-forward diet can help decrease the risk of many health
conditions and diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, obesity, high blood
pressure, high cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes, dementia and many cancers,” says
Dr. Robert Israel, an internal medicine physician with USA Health and Director
of the Integrative Health and Wellness program.
Classes taught by healthcare providers will lead people to
implement and sustain life-changing behaviors by making delicious and
nutritious dishes on their own, thereby bringing the Mapps’ vision for a
healthier community closer to reality.
To learn more about the USA Integrative Health and Wellness program,
including a complete listing of upcoming classes, visit USAhealthsystem.com/specialties/integrative.
