Explore and recognize the benefits of diverse cultural and nutritional traditions

In a recent article published in advances in nutritionresearchers investigated how traditional diets followed by African, Asian, and Latin American communities are associated with dietary quality and health markers.

Their conclusion is that although the taste and composition of what is considered “healthy” diets differ, the contribution of healthy plant foods and high dietary quality is key to reducing the risk of disability and death from a variety of causes. It suggests something.

study: Perspectives: Beyond the Mediterranean Diet — Exploring the traditional diets of Latin America, Asia, and Africa as cultural models of healthy eating. Image credit: Nungning20/Shutterstock.com

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The Mediterranean diet has been extensively studied for its health benefits and is widely recognized as healthy. However, research on the traditional diets followed by non-European communities is limited, and studies on the traditional diets followed by environmental availability, religious and/or cultural preferences, and over multiple generations have been limited. It is defined as something you consume and emphasizes home-cooked meals made from biodiverse foods.

Diet-related illnesses are on the rise as highly processed foods replace traditional food systems. At the same time, health disparities stem from structural racism and other social decisions, including economic insecurity, cultural factors, and unequal access to nutritious food, health care, and education. and so on.

Recognizing the value of traditional diets and food systems can guide dietary guidance and research and reduce the disproportionate impact of chronic diseases on certain ethnic and racial groups.

This calls for expanding research on diet and health beyond Europe and North America, with a focus on traditional diets in Latin America, Asia, and Africa, as they relate to the diverse population of the United States. is shown.

Evolution of the Latin American Diet

The traditional diet of Latin America is a blend of indigenous, colonial, and African influences, and is characterized by staple foods such as corn, beans, and an abundance of fruits and vegetables, and often seafood. The Oldways Latin American Heritage Pyramid illustrates this diversity.

Despite the risk factors, Hispanic Americans often have lower rates of heart disease and longer lifespans, likely due to traditional diets and social support.

In Costa Rica’s Nicoyan Peninsula, adherence to a traditional diet is correlated with lower blood pressure and reduced risk of heart disease. Similarly, in Mexico and elsewhere, traditional diets are associated with lower risk of inflammation and type 2 diabetes.

In the United States, interventions based on traditional Latin American diets have improved diabetes management among Hispanics. However, diverse subgroups of Hispanics have diverse diets and health conditions, and some have adopted Western practices, leading to poor diet quality, especially among first-generation American children. .

Understanding these changes and promoting culturally tailored programs is essential to addressing health disparities within the Hispanic community.

Traditional and Diaspora Asian Meals

Asia’s diverse food traditions cannot be expressed in a single way, due to differences within and between countries, cities, and households.

Instead, the broader pattern of traditional Asian diets emphasizes common elements such as vegetables, vegetarian protein sources, whole grains, and fermented foods that are widespread in East, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. I am.

Okinawa, known as a country of longevity, has a traditional diet centered on root vegetables, soybean products, and seafood. Although some liken the traditional Japanese diet to a Mediterranean pattern, high salt intake remains a concern.

Nevertheless, the Japanese diet has been correlated with better health outcomes, and recent changes resemble a fusion of traditional and Western elements.

Across Asia, a healthy diet that is primarily plant-based is prevalent, although specific foods vary by region. Research highlights the link between traditional Asian diets and reduced risk of chronic disease, but there are concerns about sodium intake.

Asian populations in the United States and Canada are consuming too much sodium and replacing traditionally consumed whole grains with refined alternatives, reflecting a growing nutritional shift toward processed foods. We are facing challenges such as:

african people pattern

The African diaspora cuisine includes many cultural cuisines spanning regions from the African continent to the Americas. Rather than prescribing a single diet, this perspective recognizes the diverse culinary traditions shaped by slavery and immigration.

The African American, Afro-Caribbean, and Afro-South American diets are a blend of indigenous African staple foods and local influences. Foods like okra, collard greens, and black-eyed peas trace their roots to West and Central Africa.

African staples are fused with tropical flavors and seafood from the Caribbean and South America, and Afro-South American dietary patterns incorporate European and indigenous influences.

Research shows that traditional African dietary patterns have health benefits due to higher dietary quality and lower risk of chronic disease.

Despite the challenges posed by the nutritional shift towards processed foods, there are many healthy benefits such as higher intakes of fruit in the Caribbean and higher intakes of whole grains and vegetables in sub-Saharan Africa. Eating habits continue.

Intervention studies have shown promising results, showing that traditional African diets are associated with reduced inflammation and improved gut health.

However, socio-economic factors and food access disparities continue to shape dietary choices within African communities, raising the need for further research and culturally tailored interventions to promote health and equity. It is embossed.

conclusion

Populations around the world are transitioning from traditional diets to processed foods, raising public health concerns.

Traditional diets from Asia, Latin America, and Africa emphasize beans, grains, fruits, and vegetables in line with dietary guidelines and may offer benefits comparable to those associated with the Mediterranean diet.

These dietary patterns are less animal-centered than the U.S. guidelines, provide a path to culturally appropriate health, and require further research and policy support.