During April, I'll be posting on the A-Z Blogging Challenge. My theme is the Hunzas.
Today is D....... for diet.
Hunza people can't shop at food markets because of their isolation. Their diet consists of what grows in the sheltered valley. One of the reasons they were able to survive in seclusion is because their valley was able to provide all the essentials for a balanced diet
The picture above is an apricot tree in full bloom.
A typical meal may consist of chapatas of wheat, millet or corn
Green leafy salad in summer & root vegetables in the winter.
Goat milk or buttermilk.
Goat butter made into gee and goat cheese.
Wine made from fruit.... apricots, cherries.
Their cooking oil comes from almonds and apricots. .
Very little meat is available. This well balanced diet accounts for the Hunzas cheerful attitude, exceptional health and abundant stamina.
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A short video on the Hunza diet and what gives them robust health.
Whew -- for a moment there I thought I was going to get a healthy dose of guilt. Thanks--this post was quite interesting. Visiting from AtoZ.
ReplyDeleteI am sure all of us would have exceptional health also if we would eat less processed foods, no sugar and grains as close to their original form as possible.
ReplyDeleteI see they made wine! I kind of miss a glass of wine now and then. Never was much of a drinker but a glass of wine now and then tasted so good.
Oh the thought of apricot oil has got me salivating! Sounds and smells so aromatic! Yay! Take care
ReplyDeletex
Apricots are one of my very favourite fruits, apricot puree stirred into yoghurt is a favourite summer breakfast or snack. I read my health book to find the Hunza reference and found my "jam" made from dried apricots, dried dates and a little water. Now I have to go googling to find out more about the Hunzas, their diet and lifestyle. It's intriguing.
ReplyDeleteLove this post.:) I am always curious about the foods in other places. But, A place where there is no harmful additives to food sounds great to me. :) Can't wait to read more.
ReplyDeleteI am loving your series...very interesting.
ReplyDeleteApricots....who knew. I'm off to the Stone Store to get me some.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to get a hold of some oil!
ReplyDeleteFirst, I want to say that I think 25 Apricot Kernels a day is excessive. Better check it out first. I've taken 3 to 5 kernels daily. For years they could not be sold in the US. I got mine through Mexico and now you can get them on Amazon. I've heard of people taking larger amounts but usually it's regulated by a health practitioner.
ReplyDeleteWendy : No healthy "guilts" allowed. :)
Terry : You are right. They had no processed sugar all those years. i've heard that they do have some disease now that they are so exposed to the world.
Kitty : I grow apricots. Have 4 trees. Love to do a facial with smashed apricots.
River : Let me know if you find any new information.
Gossip girl : You are right. These GMO's that are grown in the foods are scary.
ain't for city gals : welcome and good to see you again.
Delores : I added something to your post comment.
Bish : You can get apricot oil at the health food stores. I make all my own soap and always add a little. It's so marvelous for the skin. Also add jojoba and walnut and wheat germ and lots of goodies.
Don't think I could live off such a diet, but then I guess one really never knows until they have too. Interesting facts once more.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that you are able to grow your own apricots where you live. I know that apricot is used in a lot of beauty preparations. Yes, I'm sure we would all be much more healthy if we could keep off all these refined sugars that are everywhere. Another good post.
ReplyDeleteIs 'gee' clarified butter?
ReplyDeleteApricots in a cold environment...now it makes sense why the aggie experts say that we get the best apricot harvest after a very cold winter.
ReplyDeleteWho could go wrong with a diet of apricots and goat milk products? I can already imagine a salad with goat cheese and apricots. Maybe I will emigrate. ;-)
ReplyDeleteSC : Do you have an critters (like goats) in CR?
ReplyDeleteSusieee : Yesss, Apricot grow very well here. Some seasons are good for pears and cherries grow in abundance. That's it. We don't have mangos or papaya or any of that good stuff.
Suze : Gee is clarified butter. It must be an Indian word as I was first introduced to gee from my guru. Then my acupuncturist. :)
this is me : I've made many a facial from apricot. I've saved a bucket of pits for what, I don't know.
Pat : Sure you could, if the nearest convenience store was scaling down K2. :)
The trees are gorgeous Manzanita! I bet there is very little obesity there, am I correct? It reminds me of the saying, 'Live simply, so that others may simply live!'
ReplyDeletegreat post!
Ugh, I hate eating well. I'm constantly trying to, but I always cheat and eat yummy bad foods. I'll try to remember the tree next time. Happy A-Z blogging.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I need to move there because I just can't seem to get over this virus I have now had for a month and a half!! Seriously though, this is fascinating and I have never seen an apricot tree so full of bloom.
ReplyDeleteInger : I'm nor so sure about now but way back when, I wanted to go there because of the good health they enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteS.L. : You are not alone. :)
Tracy : I've seen lots of pictures and all the people were slender but now that they are introduced to sugar, who knows?
Even though I life in the Great White North, maybe I should try to grow apricots up here. Both of our children gave back yards. But both of our children have dogs.
ReplyDeleteIf apricots survive cold weather, do they also survive dogs?
It seems like that is how we should all be eating!
ReplyDeleteBut, thank God we don't have to forage for our food. I do appreciate the supper market.
Play off the Page
Wow, no meat? I don't know if I could live there!
ReplyDeleteThis seems to be a very interesting people.
Hi Manzanita. great theme! I love reading about cultures where their diet and way of life is sustainable generation after generation - so different from ours with an unhealthy reliance on meat for protein.
ReplyDeleteSue: An A-Z of Climate Matters
Sue : I an so happy to see you. I was wondering why I couldn't find you. I'll pop right over and see you.
ReplyDeleteJeremy : They eat some meat but don't have the land for grazing animals.... or foul.
Mary : I don't like what is happening to our food right now. Scary.
Bear : I bet you could grow apricots. Some years I get a bumper crop but if the buds start and it freezes, nix on that year's crop.
You make your own soap? wow. Is the recipe somewhere on your blog? In your archives?
ReplyDeleteHi Manzanita .. amazing series on the Hunza peoples - loved their haunting music, their Capital .. and how they live .. and your Efficiency post - we all could learn a thing or two here ..
ReplyDeleteWhile their hunter-gatherer diet is very interesting .. and again we should follow ..
Cheers - thanks I'm enjoying the read .. Hilary
A very useful information, thanks a lot for sharing! I used to often eat apricot kernels in my childhood, and now I see it is a must to continue the tradition!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Really?? Manzi, you are making your own soap?? That's my dreamest dream! We need to talk about it further.. ;)
River : I don't think I ever did do a post on soap making. I've been doing it for such a long time, it doesn't seem like a big deal. I will do a post on it after this A-Z is ended.
ReplyDeleteHilary : Thank you very kindly. I used the wrong Capital/ol. Something nagged at me.
Zara : Yes, we will talk. I wouldn't use any other soap but my own. I even wash my hair with my soap. I do/did make a special shampoo soap in a bar but all my soap is so rich in good oils that I just use the body soap.