A Hunzan family
In John Robbins’ book Healthy at 100, he reveals the
secrets for living an extended and fulfilling life by exploring the example of
four very different cultures that have the distinction of producing some of the
world’s healthiest, oldest people. Although the four cultures may be different
and distant from one another, they share surprisingly similar eating habits and
lifestyles. The four cultures are the Abkhasians in the Caucasus south of
Russia, the Vilcabambans in the South American Andes, the Hunzans in Central
Asia, and the people from the southern Japanese islands of Okinawa.
Three of the four peoples live in high mountain regions
which they must navigate under their own bodily power. Their method of
transportation is on foot and as such not only is physical activity a part of
their daily life, but they are not exposed to the environmental toxins
associated with industrial societies. Strength, agility and hardiness are
especially noticeable in the remote regions of Northern Pakistan where the
Hunzan peoples live in decided isolation. These people are natural
mountaineers.
Their way of life is less hurried and therefore less
pressured than we are used to in industrialized countries. This translates to
low stress and increased nervous system and cardiovascular health. They respond
to adversity with courage and creativity. They are masters of going with the
flow.
They also celebrate aging and hold the elderly in high
esteem. There is a sense of sharing and caring for others at all stages of
life. Strangely, there is little focus on food in these cultures. They focus on
relationships over food. You are invited to gatherings, not dinners, although
there is food present. And they practice under eating. Not to deny themselves
or go hungry, but to eat to feeling satisfied rather than feeling full.
Interestingly, the Hunzas, who live in a Muslim country,
women are not abused or over-worked. They go unveiled, work the fields in
trousers, and inherit property. They enjoy an amazing level of freedom. Abkhasians have a unique way of raising children. Parents
express disapproval by withholding praise. Because there is no punishment,
there is no resentment. As a people, they are respectful of their bodies and
the bodies of others. As such, violence and abuse are almost unheard of.
In all four cases, the diet can be described as
lacto-vegetarian, but it is predominantly plant-based, with the occasional dairy
in the form of fermented goat milk. They enjoy freshly picked produce out of
their own fields and eat most vegetables raw. Occasionally they will steam
vegetables and consume the liquid that the vegetables are cooked in to obtain
the maximum nutrients from the food. Abkhasians pickle some of their vegetables
to be eaten in winter months. Hunzas will soak lentils, beans and peas in
winter and eat them raw and sprouted or occasionally steamed. Fresh foods are
eaten in season and are always locally grown. hey pick fruit off the trees and eat them between meals.
They also eat whole grains: The Abkhasians eat as cornmeal porridge at every
meal; the Vilcabambans cultivate corn, quinoa, wheat and barley; the Hunzans,
wheat, barley, millet, buckwheat, and the hard, pearly seeds of a grass called
Job’s tears.
Fats are obtained from nuts and seeds. The Vilcabambans eat
avocado, the Hunzas flaxmeal and the Okinawans sometimes eat fish. Not one of
the four peoples eats much meat. But when they do it is freshly slaughtered.
There is little pastureland but when they do eat meat, it usually from sheep or
goats. They get their protein from plants, nuts and beans.There is no processed food, no sugar nor salt.
Because their food is so fresh, there is no risk of
pathogenic micro-organisms tainting the food. The result is there is no
sickness from infection. The vitality of the soil is another contributor to the
long-term health of all these groups. The Hunzans are the leaders in their
methods of agriculture. They build fertile terraces with brilliantly designed
irrigation systems which divert water from mountain streams. The soil becomes
conditioned and enriched with essential minerals. In addition, they put dead
leaves, rotting wood and any animal waste into compost to nourish the plants
and trees.
Degradation of the soil, air pollution, processed foods, and
societal conflicts all lead to a shorter life and health span..Health span is that period of life when we are healthy and free of disease]. Not all of these
things are under our control. Nevertheless, what the study of these longest living peoples confirms is that a plant-based diet, daily exercise and fresh air go a long way to
enhancing our life spans and health spans.
