Did you know that India , the Mediterranean , Korea and Okinawa are some of the longest living nations with the highest average life expectancy ?? The secret to their longevity ? Eating right , with discipline . Find out the foods they eat and the miraculous cleansing and health properties behind these foods.
'' Korean Pickles''
Yo , we've sure seen a lot of Korean barbecues and spicy stir fried rice cakes in the much applauded Korean TV Drama '' Dachangjin '' . But the true secret to the Korean 's longevity still lies in the nutritious picked food recipes and ginseng soup used to combat their harsh winter nights . In fact cold pickled foods account fr 60% of overall Korean dishes .
There's pickled hot pepper , garlic , cucumbers , yellow bean sprouts, turnips and all sorts of kimchi , Korean traditional spicy fermented dish made various seasoned vegetables , articularly cabbage .
Compared to the Chinese tradition of frying and cooking , Korean pickles are more appetising , refresh and pleasing to the palate fr even if complemented with oily meat and poultry stuffs , the greasiness is washed off . Pluss the fermented vegetables with pepper , ginger and garlic have a great medicinal value fr they are high in fiber , low in fats and contain bifidobacterium and lactobaccillus , the 2 most common bacteria in the human gut .
Every Korean warms himself with a bowl of priceless ginceng chiken soup in the winter fr instant energy . But actually , Koreans also eat fresh ginceng roots , which display a cool nature , during the summer to compensate fr the perspiration loss and calories spent . In fact , the RH2 derived frm the ginceng roots help improve immunity ,frevent adult diseases , optimizes circulation and protect the liver . No wonder the Koreans are very good strong liquor drinkers .
''Indian Curry ''
India , a mystic and sacred place character terised by numerous gods , idols and religious doctrines ; India , where its ancient text Kama Sutra in Sanskrit literature is still used to guide principles on love human sexual behaviour ; India where the caste system remains strong in countryside and villages ; India ,Where Ayurveda , the concept of promoting harmony between the individual and Nature started some 3,000 years ago by the ancient Brahmin sages is still very much being practiced and revered. And of course Indian curry , the staple ingredient firmly entrenched in the India way of life , now a world -class gourmet food , is the reason why India has the lowest number of cancer and Alzheimer's disease in the world.
Indian curry has an unforgettable distinctive taste . Though it lacks the aromatic meat flavour of Chinese stewed meat dishes , still it is neither greasy nor watery . The secret to this yummy thick paste is that no extra water is added fr the vegetables used , specially the onions is cooked in its own liguid , there by giving off a dellicious fresh sweet creamy richness.
To overcome the over powering intense curry taste swirling in your mouth , complement it with some onion or garlic Naan , baked leavend Indian flatbread straight out of the oven or traditional clay pots , or some buttered rice. Researches show that curry helps strengthen blood vesels , promote healthy circulation because turmeric , the essential spice used in curries has long been used in folk medicine to lower blood cholesterol , treat arthritis ,etc .
'' Cretan Diet ''
And so it goes that while Menelaus went to attend his Granfather's funeral in Crete , Helen ran of to Troy with Paris , and thus caused the Trojan War . Crete Islan must be familiar to everyone well versed in greek mythology but have you heard of the Cretan Miracle ?? The Cretan diet is now avidly used in westren diet formulas fr it is believed that its a most wholesome Mediterranean cuisine focused on natural ingredients as alive oil , which is rich in mono unsaturated fatty acid , fresh vegetables , wild greens , beens , whole grains , cereals , onions and garlic, a potent antioxidant and plenty of tomatoes rich in lycopene and beta carotene .
These ingredients aid in the promotion of healthier ,longer life fr they help protect against heart and artery disease , against cancer and against ageing . Cheese too ,such as feta , gruere and mozzarella , is a significant part of the Cretan cuisine fr these calcium -rich food help minimise the risk of osteoporosis and age -related bone loss.
Well of course the Mediterranean leisure way of life also contributes significantly to good living . Take it easy enjoy a glass of red wine with dinner and if you are a man , your body's build may just end up like one the spartan heroes battling the Persian Army in the Movie '' 300'' .
'' Okinawa Sea Nutrients ''
Okinawa is famous fr its salty pork because the pork dish has a slightly sweet , light , soft and smoothtexture and is absolutely non -greasy . Large quantities of vegetables are boiled a long with the pork to remove its acute , pungent smell and fats . The Okinawans also love to stir-fry their spam luncheon meat with bitter gourds so they don't have to worry much about saturated fats and high cholesterols.
The Japanese sure eat healthy with the bulk of their diet derived frm non -polluted regional seaweeds and plants , Japan already has some of the longest-living citizenz but Okinawa champs in Japan's longevity .Researchers discovered that Okinawa 's citizens over a hundred years of age are rarely fat , that's because their average calorie intake is even 20% less than the average Japanese despite having been influenced by the Chinese, Japanese and other Southeast Asian's culinary methods.
Maybe it's their preference fr the brown algae and sea grapes grown around their clean , zero polluted corals , these seaweeds contain U-Fucoidan a substance that causes cancer cells to self -destruct and are delicious too , just marinate the brown seaweeds fr a few days and its a delicacy , or sprinkle some soy sauce on the sea grapes , top them on a steaming bowl of rice and it tastes as good as caviar.
