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Asian Lifestyle and Diet and How They Equate to a Healthier Population

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You're probably aware that a new low-carb diet craze is sweeping the nation. It's another Atkins revolution, except that this time it's been packaged up as "Primal" or "Paleo" style of eating. It may not be called "Atkins" but this style of eating is pretty much the same as that promoted heavily by the recently-departed physician. Grains, like wheat & rice, and sugar are out while copious amounts of fish, grass-fed beef, wild game, and salad greens take their place. The reason why these types of diets work is that they keep insulin levels low. Insulin is the primary mechanisim the body uses to store fat. This if it's not present in the system, fast is not locked away but is instead used for energy. Of course, when this idea is examined more closely, it makes one wonder. If eating carbs leads to weight gain then one would assume that societies that eat the least amount of carbs would be the skinniest. This seems to fly apart when looking at Asia though. Asian people do eat a lot of rice, right? How come their still rather skinny? Let's talk about that.



People in the United States, Canada, and the UK like rice, but it's nowhere near as popular as in Asia. Rice is a relatively high-carb food. Not as high as wheat or corn, but high nevertheless. Ounce-for-ounce, rice is going to have about the same amount of glucose as other grains. Not all types of carbohydrates are used by the body in the same way which is why the physiological effect of eating rice is different than eating other grains. Most people don't know it, but phytic acid and lectins are forms of bioweapons generated by plants. They infuse their offspring with them in hopes that other animals that eat the seeds will get sick and shy away to other food sources. Since we don't find these types of substances in rice, it would appear that this is one plant that knows it can grow enough offspring to keep the cycle of life going.



If I had to choose between eating wheat, corn, or rice...I'd deffinately go with the rice. Why, you ask? That's simple. If you're following a low-carb diet like I am, then you want to avoid anything that increases blood sugar. Rice is the least offender in this regard so it's the food to go with in an emergency. I might even start buying this stuff in vacuum sealed containers and storing it in case the world starts to go to hell like so many people believe. I'd be willing to say that wheat is one of the worst foods one can eat. There a book called "Why We Get Fat" by Gary Taubes which explains in-detail how this all works on a physiological level and why wheat is a prime suspect in the proliferation of chronic diseases across the globe today. Eating wheat is like setting your body up for a nutritional train wreck. No so with rice.







Even in areas of New York or Los Angeles, you will see a very different attitude toward physical activity and fitness in the Asian communities which have sprung up there. While in these areas do some asking around and find out if the average Asian American thinks that fitness is important enough to take action. I'm guessing the answer would be yes more often than not. After all, these people invented Tai Qwan Do, yoga, and other intense disciplines. They're not strangers to physical endeavors. Even Asian people that have achieved a high level of success upon moving here can still be seen doing a lot of walking. It could be due in part to their strong connection to their families and the cultural patterns that bind them. It's hard to say, but we can make a call on the easily observable phenomenon of generally high levels of activities in Asian communities.

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Add up all the fact that they eat a highly diverse diet, get a lot of exercise, and consume rice instead of wheat and I'm sure that the case can be made that there is no Asian Paradox. These people are just living a far healthier type of life while at the same time avoiding all the worst foods that we tend to gorge on. Now if only we could stop the vegans from pushing the idea that Asian people are not obese as proof for eating wheat and other carbs in addition to rice as an ideal lifestyle choice..