The Asian Diet

[TheKiwi]

I looked for a thread like this, but couldn't find one.

Recently, I've been noticing that typically, Asians have wonderful skin and hair, and they also typically seem to live long, healthy lives. I think this is directly related to their diets: fish almost daily, vegetable oils, fruits, legumes/nuts/seeds, vegetables, tea, and lots of rice, noodles, breads, and other grains. They typically eat meat and sweets rarely, and drink alcholic beverages moderately. I think this sounds like a very healthy way to eat, and I'd like to try to incorporate more of these foods into my diet. I think another trick is that Asians don't eat a lot of processed foods. Their food also has low saturated and total fat.

Anyone want to try to eat a more Asian-inspired diet with me?

Here's an interesting site on it: http://chetday.com/asiandiet.html

 

[TheKiwi]

Another great site on a similar diet, the Mediterrasian diet: http://www.mediterrasian.com

The Traditional Healthy Asian Diet Pyramid:

credit: http://www.mediterrasian.com

 

[shoegal2183]

I agree with what you are saying. I went to a workshop on nutrition as it relates to health and the presenter pointed out that cultures that eat a diet high in things such as of harmful fats and processed foods all tend to have people with common diseases and health concerns whereas people who live off of what they grow for example have fewer health concerns and live longer and healthier lives.

I have not read either, but two books were reccomended on this topic: "The Chinese Study" and "French Women Don't Get Fat"

Has anyone read or know more about these two titles?

 

[Deleted member 49693]

I just want to say that sticky rice is very unhealthy as well as too much salty foods. The asians have great skin and hair and are slim because of their metabolism not because of what they eat.

Asians do eat alot of sweets, go look at an asian supermarket and see all the yummy sweets...

The book 'French women don't get fat' is a rip-off. Basically the book is just saying eat every few hours but small quantities and you will stay slim....


I wouldn't really recommend the Asian diet because it is too salty. I do however recommend the italian diet which bascially has extra virgin olive oil in every meal that keeps the digestive system healthy and stays slim...but remember too much of anything is bad for you.

xx

 

[diesanni]

I think the Asian Diet Pyramid could be the basis for a very healthy lifestyle. Do people in Asia really eat like that? I think it's more a recommendation how you should be eating. But only six glasses of water?

 

[FashionJunkie]

I don't know about the asian diet, but asian food? Bring it on!!!!LOL

 

[Erin]

I just want to say that sticky rice is very unhealthy as well as too much salty foods.

Hmmm... I'm not in agreeance...

Much of Asian food is Americanized, or altered elsewhere, to include much more fat and salt and deep-fried coatings... in fact, most of the rice that Asians eat is steamed white rice... here in the States, I know, much of it is fried to suit the Americans. I'm not saying that all Americans eat unhealthily, but many of them do.

 

[TheKiwi]

I just want to say that sticky rice is very unhealthy as well as too much salty foods. The asians have great skin and hair and are slim because of their metabolism not because of what they eat.

I've always heard that Asians stay slim because they eat slowly (which explains why the French are also typically slim also, as well as most of the world). Eating with chopsticks automatically means you're going to eat a little slower than with a fork or spoon. If you think about it, everyone pretty much eats slower than Americans, and I think that eating fast may be a cause of obesity, because when you eat fast, it takes your body longer to tell you that you're full, so you'll eat a lot more than you need. I could be wrong though.

 

[Hipkitten]

I've always heard that Asians stay slim because they eat slowly (which explains why the French are also typically slim also, as well as most of the world). Eating with chopsticks automatically means you're going to eat a little slower than with a fork or spoon. If you think about it, everyone pretty much eats slower than Americans, and I think that eating fast may be a cause of obesity, because when you eat fast, it takes your body longer to tell you that you're full, so you'll eat a lot more than you need. I could be wrong though.

Eating fast can be a problem; but more problematic is portion size. The sheer amount of food served in American restaurants/households is immense. Portions are much smaller in Asian countries. That said, lets try to stay away from weight discussion and focus on the health benefits of the "Asian Diet."

 

[TheKiwi]

Oops, sorry... I should have worded that differently.

 

[Eurasian Mélange]

But only six glasses of water?

This is probably because Asians in general are a lot smaller than those in the West. I know that here they recommend eight glasses of water a day to everyone, but do you honestly think that my boyfriend and I should both consume the same amount of water a day when I'm 5'2" around 98lbs and he's 6'4" and weighs about twice as much as me? I read in a book written by some doctors that the best way to estimate the amount of water you should be drinking a day is by having one glass for every 14lbs you weigh. So, I should be drinking around seven glasses each day. Considering I'm half Asian and many Asians are built similarly to me (minus the big hips ) I think six glasses a day is about right for them (in general).

P.S. I hope I have not broken any rules by mentioning weight here, but I felt it was necessary to explain the water thing. Sorry if I have!

 

[writergal28]

This is probably the diet in more traditional Asian cultures. A Hong Konger's diet is going to be different from someone in mainland China as HKers eat more "westernized foods." A Chinese person who grew up in the west will have grown up with a diet similar to Hong Kong, except he/she may have grown up with more dairy (like moi) and will likely be a bit bigger (unlike moi...I'm slightly shorter and much lighter than most of all the women in my generation).

 

[MTRLBY]

I think the Asian Diet Pyramid could be the basis for a very healthy lifestyle. Do people in Asia really eat like that? I think it's more a recommendation how you should be eating. But only six glasses of water?

i'm from south korea..and the whole thing about eating meat once a month caught me off guard. i agree with you that it seems like a healthy way to eat, but i dont think its realistic.

the basis for a universal 'asian diet' doesn't make any sense. asia is a continent with different countries and uhh different eating habits.

 

[TheKiwi]

i'm from south korea..and the whole thing about eating meat once a month caught me off guard. i agree with you that it seems like a healthy way to eat, but i dont think its realistic.

the basis for a universal 'asian diet' doesn't make any sense. asia is a continent with different countries and uhh different eating habits.

From the first link I posted:

Definition of "Asia"

"Asia" represents an enormous land mass that contains a large variety of peoples, cultures and cuisines. The Healthy Traditional Asian Diet Pyramid was inspired by the cuisines of South and East Asia, including such countries as China, Japan, South Korea, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and other related Pacific Rim areas.

credit: http://chetday.com/asiandiet.html

 

[ele]

They eat a lot of TOFU in Asian which is so so good for you, especially women. I have heard that in general, menopause and peroids for asian women is easier as they have eaten so much tofu throughout their whole lives..

 

[rollagasper]

Ok, i am from a chinese background, and i've also lived in Japan for almost half a decade, so i'll try to clarify some stuff about asian eating habits.

1. My family eat meat, probably daily. However, our portions are comparably small. North Americans can have a huge slab of steak in one meal, but for us we just put a bit of meat in our stir fry or eat a few slices of sausage.

2. I'm not sure about the fish daily thing. I personally don't like the asian style cooked fish and only eat fish maybe once or twice a month. I do know that the japanese eat more fish because they are an island and they have an abundance of fresh fish. Even their raw fish tastes great with some good soy sauce. (sashimi)

3. We eat rice everyday. I don't think white rice is actually good for you though, because it's very refined.

4. Whoever said asian food is too high in salt, i have to differ. Obviously if youare going to order take-out, then the food will be super high in sodium and fat (they use sooo much oil). When we cook vegetables at home, we don't use much oil at all, and we add just enough taste so that it's not bland.

5. i don't think a chopstick means eating slower... if you've been using a chopstick since you were born, then you can wolf down food no problem using the tool. Personally i think eating is a waste of time sometimes and i eat dinner in less than 10 minutes. Haha, i know i should slow down.

6. I don't think eating like an asian person will guarantee you the body or health of an asian person. Different races have different genetic make-up. Asians are natually more petite. In fact, a normal BMI for a european person can be a slightly over-weight BMI for an asian person. I've also learned that a lot of native people of north america got ill and experienced other unatural health conditions when the Europeans came to NA and introduced new foods. Like sugar.

Anyhow, hope that helped.

 

[Becky_da_da_da]

My mother's best friend is Indian, so I've basically grown up on South Indian food.

This is completely different to the Westernized version of 'Asian' or 'Indian' food, hence why some may think this isn't as healthy as it sounds.

As long as you don't order Asian take-out every night thinking its how a large portion of the world eats, you'll be fine

 

[mlsnts]

Haha I'm asian and i certainly don't eat like that. If I do I certainly wouldn't look like this.. lol.

I think it's not really an 'asian' diet thing. Those rules are pretty general for anyone who wants to eat healthier.

 

[misssakura]

Every asian i've met has pretty bad skin :/

(namely chinese, korean and japanese although a few of my friends from India don't have such good skin either. Lots of acne and overly oily)

 

[rollagasper]

^i'm not sure if their skin has to do with their diet, but on the plus side, oily skinned people don't get wrinkles as early.