The proof of the pudding is in the eating, they say. The Asian diet is followed by more than 43 countries including China, India, Japan, Korea, Philippines and Singapore, among other countries. Going by statistics, these people seem to be much healthier than the average, obese Westerner. Diana My Tran has made this diet available to the rest of the world through her book, The Asian Diet.
The Asian diet is the way of life in the largest continent of the world. The eating practices here are influenced by religion and culture. The Asian diet is high in fruits and vegetables and low in meat. In fact, for the Asians, meat is never the main course. It is simply a side dish that enhances flavor.
The Asian diet is rich in beneficial foods like soy, rice, vegetables, fruits and fish. Since their food intake is directly dependent on produce that is available locally, the food is nutritious and high in fiber and antioxidants. Their diet is balanced with sufficient amounts of iron, minerals, vitamins and calcium. They eat fish quite regularly and this has beneficial effects on the skin and the body. Poultry also features in this diet. However, the Asian diet does not contain an excess amount of dairy.
Asians use lots of herbs and spices. These are beneficial to the internal body systems and they enhance the flavor of food as well.
The Asian diet is largely free of deep fried foods and they are low in saturated fats. Since they lean heavily on plant based foods and generally reject highly processed foods, the number of calories taken in is naturally on the lower side. This eliminates the risk of many diseases like coronary disease, obesity and cancer.
Exercise plays an important part in the Asian way of life. Generally, these people are very active and indulge in moderate to strenuous physical activities in the natural course of their lives.
The above principles form the premise of this book. Detailed menu plans are provided and recommended foods include fruits, vegetables, rice, cereal, coffee and tea. In this plan, dinner is when you eat the lion’s share of the food. One snack is allowed per day.
The Asian Diet Review
There is no denying the fact that Asians, as a community, enjoy a much healthier way of life just as it is well known that people from the West are the most obese and unhealthiest in the world.
Why is this so?
The diet followed in the West is high in fat, sodium, red meats, preservatives, colors, artificial flavors and other quick-fixes. This kind of eating has landed millions of people on the doorstep of obesity and a number of serious diseases. That is the reason why more and more people are looking across the globe at cultures that enjoy more health for clues to healthier living.
Asian Diet Pros and Cons
Pros:
- A healthy way of life
- Encourages plant based foods over red meats
- Allows healthy snacking
- No calorie counting
- Encourages intake of a wide variety of foods
- Diet high in fiber
- Emphasizes the importance of exercise
Cons:
- May be calcium deficient
- Not really suited to people in Western societies who are used to other kind of eating.
In Conclusion
Is the diet healthy? Can people follow it successfully? Is it effective in keeping weight under control? You only have to look at more than half the world’s population to know that the diet is very beneficial, highly doable and completely effective. In fact, this diet seems to be a much healthier way of life than what the typical Westerner is used to!