Health Tips from World Cuisine

Staying healthy and enjoying food these days apparently appears to be on the opposite sides of the spectrum, which  makes the battle of the bulge to be a very depriving activity but the truth is that many studies done worldwide are actually saying that you can eat, enjoy food and yet stay healthy!

These studies conducted in various countries around the globe were undertaken to see how healthy people managed to maintain their weight and fitness levels in different cultures. The study that was undertaken by a team from the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health was called the Seven Countries Study. The study was carried out from 1958 to 1970 in populations of men ages 40-59, in eighteen areas of seven countries. The countries that participated in the study were USA, Japan, Greece, Italy, Yugoslavia, Finland and Netherlands. The Seven Countries Study is the prototypical comparison study of populations, made across a wide range of diet, risk, and disease experience. It was the first to explore associations among diet, risk, and disease in contrasting populations (ecologic correlations).

What can the Seven Countries Study teach us?

Here's what the study had to say:

1. Awareness is an absolute essential for healthy eating. This doesn't happen a lot of the time because we're eating on the run or in front of the TV. Most of the time we're eating in a rush or out of sheer stress. The end result of this kind of eating is indigestion and bad absorption of nutrients. So make sure that you know what you're eating and more importantly how you're eating your next meal.

2. Eat a variety of foods through the week. Colours, textures, tastes all add to the mineral and vitamin value of each vegetable and fruit. Use these tips to buy fresh products and grill or steam your food as it uses the least amount of oil.

3. Speaking of oil, use only natural vegetable oils. Avoid using any trans fatty acids found in margarine etc. The Mediterranean folks use only olive oil in all their food preparations from pastas to salads and baked dishes. Trans fatty oils (vegetable ghee) are not used at all.

4. The next time you go grocery shopping, make a priority list and be sure to put fruits and vegetables at the very top of that list! The importance of eating plenty of these two types of food can never be stressed enough. Make it your eating mantra.

5. Japanese style cooking is very healthy. They just lightly sauté their veggies bringing out all the flavours, while retaining their natural crunch and colours.

6. The Japanese can also be credited for eating a wide variety of vegetables including seaweed. They place emphasis on eating in a family setting which also adds to a warm and relaxed ambience during a meal.

7. Try to include some nuts in your diet as garnish or in salads. But avoid the fried kind that are usually used as accompaniment for beer and other liquor.

8. Always, always opt for fresh food over packaged, canned, refrigerated or frozen! Not only do you have to be concerned about its shelf life but it has minimum nutrition value compared to their fresher counterparts.

9. Ever wondered how the French are connoisseurs of fine food and wine, yet they manage to stay slim and healthy? Here's the secret - they always eat fresh food! Fresh is the key word. They also eat a good variety of food, they drink limited amounts of wine or vodka, eat small meals, and drink plenty of soups. They also serve great salads with their meals and not just as plain diet food.

10. Last but not the least, use different herbs to bring out the better flavour in your cooking. Try out easy recipes and those that bring out the colour and flavour in each ingredient.

And there you have it - ten tips from around the world, to help you eat well and eat healthy without missing out on nutrition and taste!