Different countries and cultures have much to teach us about proper nutrition. Healthy eating is governed by a wisdom. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains and limit meat and saturated fat. Eat everything in moderation, especially alcohol.
But some cultures around the world provide further information on traditional diets are not only healthier but also act as a protective shield against scourges such as cancer, depression, diabetes and heart disease. The researchers believe that such diets are key to health and longevity.
The most famous - and probably the most studied - is the Mediterranean diet, characterized by extra virgin olive oil, wild greens, whole grains and vegetables. Since we started the study of this diet in 1980, there are always new items on the essential role it plays in preventing cardiovascular disease and longevity.
Recently, the scientific journal «British Medical Journal» published the results of a study on 23,349 Greeks: Adherence to Mediterranean diet was associated with reduced mortality rates. (Of the 10,650 participants who were completely committed to the diet, 420 died while in the 12 700 participants were less consistent, died 650)
The Mediterranean is not the only region in the world, offering proper nutrition. In Okinawa, Japan and the remote town of Mexico Copper Canyon, for example, time-tested diet seems to help protect the residents from breast cancer and prostate cancer, and diabetes.
What the world can teach us
A few years ago Professor Daphne Miller of San Francisco considered the most effective diets around the world. Looking for specific areas with low disease rates, focused on five very different parts: Cameroon (West Africa), Iceland, Okinawa and Crete and the city Copper Canyon.
Resulted in some useful tips that may help fight diabetes, heart disease, depression, cancer of the colon, breast and prostate cancer.
One of the surprises: The Indians of Copper Canyon had dramatically lower blood sugar levels despite the fact that hire 80% of daily calories from carbohydrates. The difference is that it ate very little processed beans and corn. In a region plagued by poverty and malnutrition, carbohydrates seem to help prevent overproduction of insulin to maintain normal levels of blood sugar levels.
In Iceland, the question was how diet may be associated with low rates of seasonal affective disorder and depression. Part of the answer, it seemed, was that the regular consumption of fish, lamb and wild game, all foods rich in omega-3 fats, which have proven to be beneficial for brain health.
In Okinawa, again Daphne Miller does not expect to discover that the pig may explain why the city has such low rates of breast and prostate cancer. Surprised to discover that people had high blood levels of proline and glycine, compounds that help to regenerate tissue and found in collagen and elastin, which contains pork. Selenium in pork also contains a substance that helps prevent breast cancer and prostate cancer.
Applying practical diets
To follow these diets, according to Daphne Miller deserves attention on two things: the traditional style of cooking and quality ingredients. The best pork in Okinawa, for example, will not have the same nutritional value if accompanied by standard potatoes instead of sweet potatoes. Similarly, the tortilla loses its value if it is not made from nutritious corn, used by Indians.
These differences explain why the application of a traditional diet will work if not done properly.
The Mediterranean diet is the consumption of fruits and vegetables and avoiding meat. This simple diet is certainly more likely to be preferred by those who may be reluctant to try the traditional dishes in Cameroon and Iceland.
I can not say that the Mediterranean diet is better than the Japanese diet, but I can say that it is easier to apply in Western countries.
