TRADITIONAL DIETS OF HEALTHY CULTURES TEACH US THE BASICS OF PROPER FOOD INTAKE!

Here are just a few healthy cultures studied with traditional diets that have created optimal wellness.

Quechua Indians of Vilcabamba -Majority of Diet came from Vegetables, Grains and Legumes. Raw/Lightly Boiled Eggs, Cottage Cheese made fresh from cows’ or goats’ milk, and occasionally fresh meat (12 grams daily).

Georgians of Russia -70% of food from Vegetable Kingdom Origin, 30% Meat, Milk Products and Eggs.

Scotsmen-Fish (including the liver and head), and Oats.

Maori-Seafood, Pork, Coconut, Manioc (root) and Fruit.

Masai-Meat, Blood and Milk.

Eskimos-Fish, Fish Roe, Sea Oil and Blubber.

Look at the immense differences between the diets of the previously listed healthy cultures. These people had adapted to their surroundings, so their biochemical availability dictated the proper diet for them. My point is this... the Eskimos would not be healthy on a Quechua Indian diet and visa versa.

While we are taking a closer look on how far we have deviated from the proper nutrition of a non-industrialized society, I would like to break down the characteristics of these pre-modern day diets.

Once again, if you are not happy with the way you look (fit) and feel (health), please take these concepts to heart as there is an excellent chance that YOU have created (through chronic improper lifestyle choices), and are continuing to create, your own misery. Yes, I am certain that the majority of us that are living a life on prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications are doing so because of our lack of desire to do what is right, predominately because it will take a little bit of work (path of least resistance). Can you honestly tell me that you believe that living a life on foods (term is used loosely here) that are created to be fast, convenient and cheap are going to benefit the quality of your health and/or the quantity of your life? I didn’t think so…let’s take a look at what anthropologists have determined to be some of the major determining factors for diets that have benefited the health and lives of many cultures experiencing optimal health:

The diet of a healthy culture contains no refined or denatured foods or ingredients, such as refined sugar or high fructose corn syrup; white flour; canned foods; pasteurized, homogenized, skim or low-fat milk; refined or hydrogenated vegetable oils; protein powders; artificial vitamins; or toxic additives and colorings. (These are all displacement foods; high in calories and low in nutrients)

All of the traditional diets from healthy cultures consumed some sort of animal food, such as fish and shellfish; land and water fowl; land and sea mammals; eggs; milk and milk products; reptiles; and insects. The whole animal is consumed--muscle meat, organs, bones and fat, with the organ meats and fats preferred. (Remember these foods would have been free-range and been consuming a diet rich in nutrients as well)

The diets of these healthy people contained at least four times the minerals and water-soluble vitamins, and TEN times the fat-soluble vitamins found in animal fats as the average American diet. (Best case scenario? Receive all of your macro and micro nutrients from real whole food)

All these healthy cultures cooked some of their food but all consumed a portion of their animal foods raw. (Are you purchasing food that you feel comfortable consuming raw or do you feel you have to cook it until it is as tough as your shoe? After that intense heat, your shoe just may have nutritional value!)

Primitive and traditional diets have a high content of food enzymes and beneficial bacteria from lacto-fermented vegetables, fruits, beverages, dairy products, meats and condiments. (We don’t seem to be in touch today with how important our gut health is! Do you have a weak immune system? Take a good look at your gut health.)

Seeds, grains and nuts are soaked, sprouted, fermented or naturally leavened to neutralize naturally occurring anti-nutrients such as enzyme inhibitors, tannins and Phytic Acid. (If you are going to consume these foods, you MUST cook them correctly, or your health will suffer)

Total fat content of traditional diets of these healthy cultures varies from 30 percent to 80 percent of calories but only about 4 percent of calories come from polyunsaturated oils naturally occurring in grains, legumes, nuts, fish, animal fats and vegetables. The balance of fat calories is in the form of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. (Wow, low polyunsaturated fat intake, and still attaining amazing health. Who would have thought?)

These diets contain nearly equal amounts of omega-6 and omega-3 essential fatty acids. (Today? 20:1 or worse. Hello heart disease!)

All traditional diets contain some salt. (Non-processed/no additives)

These healthy cultures made use of animal bones, usually in the form of gelatin-rich bone broths. (I personally always have some type of stew or soup cooking, and honestly, this is one of the easiest proper nutritional approaches around) (www.WestonAPrice.org)

If your understanding of proper nutrition doesn’t even resemble the previous ten concepts, and you are really struggling with your health, please start taking immediate action today.