Book excerpt: It's true! You can become slender and healthy while enjoying pasta, chocolate, cheese, bread, and wine! Award-winning registered dietitian Layne Lieberman discovered that three European countries were leaders in longevity, with very low rates of heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. And yet, these countries--Italy, France, and Switzerland-- boast some of the world's most decadent foods. Layne learned firsthand just how these countries could combine superb food, a relaxed lifestyle, and exceptional health. Now, she shares her findings with readers who face the daily temptations of processed foods loaded with fat, sugar and salt. To help readers avoid becoming part of the worldwide obesity epidemic, Layne has written Beyond the Mediterranean Diet: European Secrets of the Super-Healthy. In it, she reveals how to make Europe's health secrets work for you--wherever you live! For everyone who has ever said, "I want to be slim and healthy again"--without giving up the pleasures of delicious food--this book shows how to make their wishes come true!