The Healthiest Diet

July 29, 2010 by Akemi · 4 Comments

I like reading about healthy eating and I’ve written several articles on the topic, such as this and this, about vegetarian vs meat eating diet.

Now, if you are interested in eating healthy, you know how confusing the discussions are.

Some people maintain 100% raw vegan diet is the way to go because cooking destroys the precious nutrients. They also imply humans are the only animals who cook, so cooking is unnatural. But then, if we are talking about the original way of human diet, it’s hard to believe they were vegetarian — they certainly ate animals. (Chimpanzees eat small animals like lizards and eggs. Even gorillas, generally considered vegan, actually eat insects along with veggies.)

Some insist killing animals is plane cruel and wrong, and eating animals affects our spiritual health. Then others hit back pointing out the hypocritical nature of vegans.

I am in no position to judge, but I’d like to share what I think. Maybe you can find your takeaway from my thoughts and experiences.

The reality check

In search of the healthiest diet, I set aside my reading on nutritional theories and turned to what has worked in reality.

Find people who have been in good health for a very long time (not just recovering from disease, not just healthy and beautiful in their youthful years).

Find out what they have been eating.

The Okinawa centenarians

There are several areas in the world that boast longevity. One is the southern islands of Japan, Okinawa. While some areas of the world still don’t keep reliable third-party data of birth, Japan has been quite meticulous about it since the late 19th century, so I trust the Okinawa records. (You know, just because some old folks say they are 120 years old doesn’t mean they really are . . .)

So how have the Okinawa elders been eating? (Notice my wording — I am not interested in how the Okinawans eat these days. How long an Okinawa man or woman in their teens, 20s, 30… even 50s will live is mystery. They have adopted the westernized diet. I am interested in how the current age 100 or over population in Okinawa have been eating.)

There is an excellent book on the topic called “The Okinawa Program : How the World’s Longest-Lived People Achieve Everlasting Health–And How You Can Too”. The authors did extensive interviews and research. And also, I have had several friends from that area who told me their stories.

The Okinawa centenarians are typically not vegans nor vegetarians. They eat fish and even some pork — but not very often. A bit of background info: The Okinawa islands are far off from the mainland Japan and there aren’t much land for farming… especially not for big-scale farming. People are poor (very few industries that bring cash — who wants to build a manufacturing plant on a far off island?)

So they try to survive on foods they can get on their own, not from stores. They grow their own vegetables and they forage. (They are in semi tropical area, so vegetation is good.) They fish, and younger men dive to catch fish. They raise pigs with food scraps. (Pigs don’t require large pasture like cows.)

They eat brown rice (refinement is waste) and lots of Japanese sweet potatoes. (They are right in the course of typhoons, so crops that grow on the ground, like rice, is always at the risk of getting hit before harvest. In the old days, sweet potato was the main stay of their diet.)

Tofu is a critical protein source. My friend told me her mother made tofu at home with the homegrown soys and natural nigari from the ocean. (Nigari is sea water minus water and sodium chloride. In other words, it’s a byproduct of sea salt production.)

Sweet potatoes, brown rice, wild greens, vegetables, sea vegetables, tofu and occasional fish and pork. Local and, even though the regulation of organic produce was not set back then, practically all produce was organic. Mostly plant-based, but not exclusive of animal products. Minimal refinement.

And remember the whole lot of manual labors involved to get and prepare the foods. Many Okinawa elders remain active, working in the field.

My thoughts on eating animals

The Okinawans don’t see killing their pigs as sinful. They raise their own pigs, take good care of them daily, and when the time comes, they gather, offer a prayer, and slaughter it. Then they divide the meat among friends and family. They eat “everything but the hoof” so that no part would be wasted. That is how they show their respect for the animal that made the ultimate sacrifice to sustain their lives.

I don’t have the guts to do the bloody work to put down an animal, but I understand their sentiment. I think many vegans are a bit discriminative, as if they can stay in their clean holy land if they don’t consume animals.

The truth is life circulates in this world. On the physical level, nutrients circulates. Even if you only eat vegetables, those vegetables need nitrogen, which is typically fed with animal products like chicken manure. (And you don’t think those chickens are kept solely for the poop, right? They are kept for eggs or meat.)

Accepting this truth and showing respect to ALL lives, plants and animals, is very spiritual.

By the way, this may sound bizarre to you, but when I die, I’d like my cremation to be scattered on the Pacific Ocean. In my life, I’ve eaten quite a lot of fish, and it comforts me to think that my little remains feed the fish, thus completing the circle of nutrition.

And yet I stay away from meat…

Having said this, I’d like to stay away from eating meat. Because whenever I try eating meat, even organically raised chicken, I feel the pain and discomfort of the dead animal. I feel so sensitive.

It’s not about moral. It’s about my personal energetic comfort.

I do eat some eggs. I guess I am still experimenting on the quantity and quality of protein that best feeds me. So far, I just don’t feel stable when I go too long on vegan diet.

My thoughts on raw food diet

Even though some nutrients are destroyed with the heat, I think eating some cooked foods is good for me. For one, it balances the yin and yang. If I were living like the original humans, in the sunny African continent and spending the majority of my time hunting or foraging (physical activities), then supplementing yang with cooking heat may be unnecessary. But I don’t live like that. Cooking may be one way humans have adopted to live in the northern climate.

Being attached to 100% raw also has something to do with another aspect of food discrimination. This podcast by long-time raw food advocate Dhrumil is very indicative of this. (The linked podcast is long, but it’s worth it.)

And as they wisely point out, not all “cooked” foods are created equal. I believe the Okinawans cook very simply. (They don’t waste fuel.)

In addition, I found out that many raw food enthusiasts were eating very badly before, like a donut and coffee for breakfast, hamburger and fries for lunch, and pizza for dinner. So when they turn to raw foods and their health improves, is it the power of raw? Or is it the power of taking more fresh vegetables and less toxins such as refined carbs, sugar, and overheated fat (not to mentioned the various additives and synthetic flavorings)?

Further, another point Dhrumil makes, just because someone says they eat 100% raw doesn’t mean they do. Especially online. And those who do don’t tell the whole story — how much struggle they go through with that way of eating. Here is a rare piece that explains it. Matt Monarch’s book, “Raw Spirit” also tells his interesting story of food cravings after he turned raw.

Raw food is great. I think Okinawans have been eating a lot of raw greens. But I don’t think I need to be 100% raw. I like my germinated and cooked lentils, brown rice, and quinoa.

Diet is only part of the deal

To conclude, I want to emphasize diet is only part of the deal for health and longevity. Other factors include:

Physical activities
Environment
Stress level and its management
Rest, especially the quality and quantity of sleep
Sexuality
Family and social life
Sense of worth and meaning
Spirituality

The healthiest diet is also personal. Because you are a unique combination of these (and more) factors. So when you read about healthy eating, experiment, listen to your body, and take what works for YOU.

More on Okinawa…

Because they live in the tiny islands, Okinawans have tight connection with their extended family and neighbors. The elders are far from forgotten — many middle age population seek employment in the mainlands, leaving their kids to the care of their parents. Okinawa elders work hard at home and in the field. I am sure they are proud to be such a reliable part of the society.

They produce their own entertainment. Many are excellent musicians, playing sanshin (three string instrument). They knew how essential joy is in life — even when their houses were burnt down in WWII, they ran away carrying their sanshins.

I think Okinawans exhibit the case where so-called negativity like poverty and small, closed society can work positively. Although I have no intention to relocate there (a weakling like myself won’t do there . . . I cannot even tolerate much heat), I have a lot of respect for them.

What do you think about healthy diet? How have you been eating? Please share in the comment. Thank you.

Bonus:
Here is a YouTube video clip of Okinawan traditional music (with modern arrangement). You can see the old man playing the sanshin.