Who gets to decide what the perfect diet is? This is discussed in November’s issue of Prevention Magazine. In the media, the Mediterranean Diet is considered the gold standard of a healthy diet. Certain ethnic/cultural diets are often considered unhealthy.
Who in our culture has the ability to name a “trend”? It’s interesting to note how quinoa is considered a wellness trend, but has cultural roots in South America and has been a cultural staple for millennia. Who gets to decide which diets are respected versus shamed? These are important questions to think about. It’s time we embraced many paths to healthy eating.
The article discussed how some diets from the Blue Zone, where longevity is studied, were ignored. In these regions, other factors besides diet influence the health of the residents. Factors such as social connections and sense of purpose are just as important as food. Most of the focus is on European countries.
Labeling foods as good as or bad is already problematic, but making broad judgements about someone’s favorite foods that were a part of childhood deserves further evaluation. Cultural identity and foods are an important part of who we are. Recipes are passed down from generation to generation and family gatherings are an important part of our holidays and the memories we share.
There are ways to embrace your cultural heritage and at the same time “healthify” some of your favorite foods.
