Thursday, April 5, 2018

The World's Healthiest Cuisines

Photo of Lebanese cuisin: Wall Street Journal
According to Natural Awakenings, a publication I picked up at my local health food store, 5 countries can tell us plenty about good healthy eating. I will sum up the article for you. The nationalities are:

1) Traditional Japanese🍴

Their philosophy: Food is medicine (or "Ishoku-dogen").

Practice: Eat simple; foods in season; in small portions. Stop eating when your stomach feels 80% full.

Things to eat/drink: Green tea, fermented soy; and mushrooms (shiitake and maitake); dried seaweed; sushi and rice.

2) South Indian 🍴

Their philosophy: Plants are our friends.

Practice: Eat small highly flavored, colorful, plant-based food; dry fry or toast whole spices then add them to a dish. (Spices boost health and flavor).

Things to eat/drink: Rice; vegetable/legume curry; split peas with potatoes and turmeric; coconut; dried chilis and spices.

3) Fresh Italian🍴

Their philosophy: From garden to table is best.

Practice: Grow your own food; serve it simple with extra virgin olive oil. (EVO fights Alzheimer's.)

Things to eat/drink: Fresh seasonal vegetables; basil; fresh tomato sauce; red pepper flakes, pasta and vegetables drizzled with extra virgin olive oil.

4) Lebanese🍴

Their philosophy: Like the Japanese, food is medicine.

Practice: "Maza," which means many shared dishes of great variety; mainly plant-based.

Things to eat/drink: Cabbage, summer squash, or grape leaves stuffed with vegetarian fillings, cooked in garlic or tomato broth. Lentil and rice; Bulgar pilaf with caramelized onions; cherries and walnut salad. Lemon, sumac and pomegranate molasses; pickled vegetables.

5) Vietnamese🍴

Their philosophy: Borrowed from the French: Eat less and eat together.

Practice: Steam or slow simmer food. Serve fresh salad greens with cooked food.

Things to eat/drink: Fresh herbs; leafy greens; raw green papaya (called "paw paw"); seafood; rice and condiments. (Raw and green papaya contains high levels of vitamins and minerals, which promotes healing and good digestion.)

🍏🌶🍴🍅
The proof is in the 5 international cuisines, healthy can be mouthwatering delicious!


You may also enjoy:
My Strawberry Sherbet
Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution
Healthy Real Food Is Not Expensive
Greenmarkets, Community Gardens And CSA's

4 comments:

  1. I'm not sure where you're getting your info, however great topic.
    I must spend some time finding out more or understanding more.
    Thanks for excellent info I was on the lookout for
    this information for my mission.

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  2. This is very interesting. I love all of these cuisines, particularly the Lebanese cuisine. I have dear Lebanese friends who, of course, speak French, hence our connection. Nada and her husband have since relocated to Paris, but I remember w/great fondness what a fabulous cook she was and is. When we were in Paris recently visiting mutual friends, she prepared stuffed grape leaves which were soooo delicious, just as I remembered them. I am a huge fan of Lebanese cuisine. It is very labor intensive, but so delicious. I helped her prepare a big dinner for an international group of friends, mostly French, one night and it took hours of work. Of course, preparing food together w/dear friends is also delicious.

    Great post, Debra.

    Cheers, M-T

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for sharing your story, Marie-Thérèse. Lebanese cuisine sounds so delicious. I love spices and different textures and like many of us, like to eat healthy. I love cooking with friends.

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