Re: Why not pork?

The predominant food in Asia is RICE. And more rice. And noodles.

I would definitely say that the average Asian meal is healthiER than American meals.

I have lived in Singapore and traveled in China and I didn't see a lot of "peak of health" specimens walking around. They tend to have a smaller body size, overall. This is due to several things - a combination of genetics, eating small portions, eating less processed food, and getting more exercise via daily life (walking) than Americans. They don't all have long, thick, shiny, beautiful hair or good complexions. I saw plenty of skin problems and dry, brittle hair. They have plenty of variety amongst themselves as to health problems.
Regarding pork, on a whole they eat a smaller amount of all animal flesh than Americans do. That in itself must have some merit.
They have different kinds of diseases, and I even heard some speculation that the fat is more dense (pure speculation there). There are a lot of circulatory problems, as well as certain kinds of cancers, etc.

They are 2nd in the world in diabetes:

http://english.people.com.cn/200510/13/eng20051013_214089.html


This isn't exactly good news, either:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/22931.php


The average life expectancy is 73, which is less than the USA (78.2), UK (79.4), Germany (79.4), Japan (82.6), etc. (although Hong Kong is 82.2)

Of course, the life expectation does not indicate quality of life.

Asians use herbal medicines a lot, which may be a good thing. Their diet is changing from traditional to something new and not as wholesome. One thing in the past was that they ate very little processed foods, and they also ate very small portions, a lot of this due to poverty. So this was probably good for their health in some ways, but they were also somewhat malnourished, this is one reason for their small structures, common occurrance of bow legs, etc. Now they are eating more processed foods, a lot of junk oils, dairy products, more meat, and larger amounts of everything, so obviously they will be having more disease. However, they will probably be getting larger (body frame) as a whole, as has happened to Chinese people who have moved to western countries and had children. Some of the increase would probably be better nutrition, while another part of the increase may very well be excessive hormones in the foods we eat.

Also, for example, Beijing has really bad air pollution. Lots of people's skin isn't very good there. But they have a higher than average life expectancy there, I think it's 79 something. Also, keep in mind that in America, skin treatments and medication are popular, whereas in China it wouldn't be nearly as common. A lot of Singaporeans have bad skin. So, Americans would probably appear to have better skin (as a whole), although we certainly aren't a healthy nation.

That being said, I ate all kinds of things while I lived in Singapore, certainly not an austere health-food diet, I ate a lot, and yet I lost weight and was the thinnest I've been in my adult life. I think there were a lot of factors in play there, as well. (Singapore and China certainly not having too much in common, other than being Asian countries).

I think Americans have a lot of health issues, so they get influenced by people who are a bit healthier, or just LOOK healthier (they are, on a whole, thinner, and remember, thinner = healthier to many Americans). We are easily impressed by people who are thin, but thin certainly does not mean health. And I think the famous "China Study" isn't fully accurate and leads people to quick, false assumptions.

SUMMARY: I'm just trying to say that things are seldom what they seem. There are way too many factors to consider, plus people are going through a dietary and lifestyle change on a large scale. I don't think it's too accurate to assume that the Chinese are a particularly healthy people. I'm an advocate of following traditional diets, but I would certainly look at the Japanese traditional diets and not the Chinese.