The Way We Eat: 4 Different Lifestyles

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The Way We Eat: 4 Different Lifestyles
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In the preceding article three different dietary lifestyles were referred to; Chinese Nutrition, the Ancestral Diet and the Raw Food Diet, just a small sampling of the many different ways people eat.
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Chinese Nutrition is a 3000 year old dietary lifestyle based on the concept of Yin and Yang (opposite but compli-mentary forces). The goal in this discipline is for the individual to use food to balance his or her tendency to be too yin (cool and contracting) or too yang (warm and expanding). Different foods generally have predominantly yin or yang qualities just as people do. One should eat according to his/her dominant quality or how they feel at the present time. On a given day a person may be feeling more yin, more yang or perfectly balanced. Disease is caused by an excess or lack of yin (coolness) or yang (warmth) in the body or in specific parts or systems of the body.
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When a person is not feeling particularly yin or yang, they should simply eat a well-balanced diet. A balanced diet according to Chinese Nutrition should include:

daily servings of whole grains - 40% of diet;
freshly prepared vegetables - green leafies, broccoli, cabbage, roots - 40%
fresh fruit - no more than 10%
legumes, seeds, nuts - 10-20% (lower end for meat eaters, higher for vegetarian)
animal products - dairy, poultry, eggs - no more than 10% and
seaweed in small amounts.

One should also avoid chemical additives, fried and greasy foods, excessive sugar, sweets like ice cream, and coffee.
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The Ancestral Diet is simply the reincarnation of the Hunter-Gather Diet with a little assistance from some modern mail order houses. People who eat this way partake only of wild game, vegetables, seeds, nuts and fruits. They do not eat grain foods or dairy products which are, in fact, relatively recent additions to the human diet. (The practice of agriculture is believed to be only about 10,000 years old whereas man, or at least some form of man, has been around for about 2 million years. ) Because the meat of wild game is much leaner than that which we buy at the grocery store, the Hunter-Gatherer Diet provides a wealth of vitamins and minerals without the excess of fat and cholesterol that's so prevalent in the Standard American Diet. Why do they choose to eat this way? Because those of our early ancestors who survived the elements, animal predators and natural disasters, apparently had very little heart disease, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis or other degenerative diseases. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and fish make up the major components of the Ancestral Diet with game meat, which is very expensive to buy, appearing on the menu perhaps once a day. Still, followers of the Ancestral Diet believe the high price of mail -order game meat (pheasant breast, alligator tail, elk or buffalo steak, as well as free-range chicken) is well worth it.
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People who follow the Raw Food Diet probably eat more nuts and seeds than anyone else. Add uncooked fruits and vegetables and sprouts to the cuisine and that about sums it up. Yet, they manage to create a surprising variety of dishes out of this seemingly very limited cuisine. Their motivation stems from an attitude of natural good health. We all know that cooking destroys a lot of the nutrient content in our foods and that raw foods are often the most nutrient-packed. But Raw Foodists take it to the max. They believe that food is alive and that eating it raw is the best way to add to their vim, vigor and vitality. So they don't cook anything. What does a typical meal consist of? How about a glass of carrot juice, some almonds and sesame seeds, some raw broccoli, a fresh fruit salad and a slice of crispy "no-bake bread?" Nutrition experts advise that anyone who is interested in trying this diet should ease into it over at least a six month period.
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*For more information on these diets and a host of others, read the Complete Book of Alternative Nutrition by the Editors of Prevention Magazine Health Books - available at Borders Book Stores.
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THE SATTVIC DIET
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Last month we reported on the ancient discipline of yoga so it seems appropriate in our discussion of dietary lifestyles to include the Sattvic (or Sattwic) diet, the preferred one of many yogis.
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The Sattvic diet and lifestyle is over 3,000 years old and still widely in use today. It stems from the ancient Indian therapeutic system known as Ayurveda *. This diet is lacto-vegetarian; it includes vegetable matter and dairy products. The food is fresh and gently cooked, or raw - for cleansing purposes. Organic foods are used whenever possible and highly refined foods, especially white sugar, are avoided. It is not oily or greasy; only sparse amounts of oily foods are suggested. It is only moderately spiced and should be prepared and eaten in the Sattvic (calm and relaxed) state. Meals should be simple with a limited number of components (preferably five or less). Overeating of any food, and overeating in general, is avoided. The nutritional emphasis is on complex carbohydrates and dairy products.
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Main Components of a Sattvic Diet

grains - cereal, rice, breads, pasta
vegetables - raw or slightly cooked
fruits and berries, including dried nuts
seeds
herbal tea
honey
dairy products
legumes - especially tofu, lentils, peas, mung beans and aduki beans

Foods, Etc. to be Avoided

caffeine
refined sugar
white rice
white flour
meat
nicotine
onion family foods, except for medicinal purposes
excessive use of salt.

Qualities of Sattvic Foods

calming
mind sharpening
pure
easily digestible
supplying maximum energy

*The actual Ayurvedic diet is somewhat more complicated. It involves evaluating your body/personality type (dosha) and determining your nutritional needs accordingly.
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This article is intended for informational purposes only. Nothing in this publication is intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis and advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or health-care provider before starting any new diet or procedure involving your health. Prompt professional medical guidance is recommended for any health problem.