China Vs. United States Diets

Today one of the biggest issues in the United States and around the world is our health and what we are eating. Yet, when compared to China, the United States still has a healthier living style than China. China has quite a few cuisines for different parts in China. Since the foods prepared by different places show strong regional features, they are also very different in their tastes. In northwest China the people love sour food; those of southwest China are particular to spicy food; and those from south and east China prefer sweet food. The people of north China mainly eat cooked wheaten food, such as steamed bread, steamed twisted rolls, pancakes and noodles; and the people of south China take rice as staple food. In my essay I will compare and contrast with traditional Chinese food and American food to see which one is healthier.

The average Chinese person is living much longer these days. From the statistics that I found that the figures are up and now the average life span in china is up to 72.27. China has a life expectancy of 72.27 years, and a healthy life expectancy of 63.1 for male and 65.2 for female. Their average life span is about 8 years shorter than developed countries but 10 years longer than underdeveloped countries Disease patterns in much of rural China tend to reflect those prior to the industrial revolution in the U.S., when cancers and cardiovascular diseases were much less prevalent. People who ate the most animal-based foods got the most chronic disease but people who ate the most plant-based foods were the healthiest and tended to avoid chronic disease. If you look at the US, it has a life expectancy of 77.71 years and a healthy life expectancy of 67.2 years for male and 71.3 years for female. These statistics prove that the US has a better living standard than China.

When you look at the Asian pyramid against our Food Pyramid you can see the difference. The Asian Diet Pyramid has a wide base of rice, noodles, breads and grains, preferably whole grain. Following the rice is another large band of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. Daily physical exercise, a small amount of vegetable oil and a moderate consumption of plant-based beverages, including tea mainly black and green but they do drink sake, beer and wine which are recommended daily. Small daily servings of dairy products and fish are optional; sweets, eggs and poultry are recommended no more than once a week, and red meat no more than once month. The US food pyramid starts the base with the group that contains breads, grains, cereals and pastas. Then up above it are fruits and vegetables where in China they are recommended to eat more vegetables and fruits. Meats and fish are next with dairy after it and then at the very top are fats and sweets to be used sparingly.

Today Chinese diets are much different from the average American diets, containing only about 0-20% animal based foods, while the average American diet is comprised of about 60-80% animal based foods. Comparison of diets in rural China with average American diets shows that Chinese diets are much lower in total fat, much higher in dietary fiber and also have a higher intake of total calories. Obesity in China is not as prominent as in the US, even though they consume about 30% more total calories.

Nutritionists have come to the conclusion that high fat diets are not always the case for the increase in weight gain. Americans consume 33% more protein then the Chinese and most of that are coming from meat. Where as the Chinese dietary proteins that come from meat are only at 7%. The Chinese also eat three times as much fiber per day than Americans which include fresh vegetables which contain live phytochemicals and nutrients vital to maintaining healthy metabolic processes. The Chinese also eat rice daily. Rice is high in glycemic but the Chinese have none of the negative physical side effects from eating a lot of high glycemic foods. Even though they eat so much rice it hasnÐ'Ѓft cause the rate of diabetes to go up in china nor has their body fat.

In the United States, we consume a high percent of animal fats. The Chinese do not. We consume a large amount of very high glycemic foods. They do not. Rice is one of the few high glycemic foods consumed