Want to Lose Weight? Try 'Importing' a New Diet!

Over the course of the last two thousand years, Western civilization has produced a dizzying array of important cultural and social achievements, triumphs, and accomplishments. From the concept of democracy to the personal computer, the West has been instrumental in developing many of the ideas, discoveries, and technologies that today help define life in the twenty-first century.

In fact, a few of the West's innovative inventions may have even been a bit too successful, according to some vocal critics. For example, the extremely efficient system of agricultural production and food distribution in wealthy Western countries has made it possible for people to attain their food with little or no physical effort.

Although these advances have helped Western countries overcome long-time health challenges such as hunger, malnutrition, and disease, they have also contributed to other problems -- including the widespread obesity epidemic that now faces many developed Western nations, especially the United States.

In seeking solutions for the obesity epidemic, researchers have begun to assess the traditional diets of other countries. By comparing the typical American diet with the food traditions of other regions and cultures, researchers have identified patterns of eating that are associated with improved health -- and trimmer figures.

If the standard American diet has helped you put on a few extra pounds, it may be helpful to incorporate some of the eating patterns found in other countries. This week, we'll look at a few recent studies that assessed healthy eating patterns around the world.

Scientists Declare Japanese Diet Healthier than American Diet

Asian diets are starkly different than the traditional American way of eating. Typically, Asian food choices revolve around lean proteins, abundant vegetables, and low-fat grains. According to a team of Japanese scientists, the traditional Japanese diet has many health advantages over the standard American way of eating.

Scientists from the renowned Japanese research institute at Tohoku University undertook a study designed to compare the traditional American and Japanese diets. The scientists fed two different groups of laboratory mice freeze-dried versions of traditional meals from each country over the course of several months. At the conclusion of the experiment, the differences in the health and well-being of the two groups of mice were striking.

According to the scientists, the genetic compounds that play a role in breaking down fats and cholesterols in foods were as much as 1.5 times more active in the mice eating the Japanese diet. Overall, the American diet mice had ten percent higher cholesterol levels and had shorter life spans than their counterparts in the Japanese group.

The Japanese diet that was used in the experiment was rich in seafood, rice, and soups. The scientists concluded that switching to this style of eating may help overweight individuals in Western countries to control their weight more effectively.

Mediterranean Diet Reduces Obesity, Heart Disease, and Cancer

The typical American diet reflects the country's history as a melting pot for immigrants from everywhere else in the world. In fact, many of the foods that are today thought of as staples of the American diet -- such as pizza and spaghetti -- are actually Mediterranean in origin. However, the Americanized versions of these classic dishes often increase the unhealthy ingredients and limit the health-enhancing properties of these foods.

In its own cultural context, however, the traditional Mediterranean diet has been linked with a wide array of health benefits. A study conducted by scientists at the Lipids and Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit of the Institut Municipal d?Investigaci? M?dica in Barcelona, Spain sought to identify and assess the health impacts of the traditional Mediterranean diet, which is rich in foods such as fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, fish, and olive oil. The study focused on a population of over 3000 adult men and women in Spain.

According to the study's findings, adherence to the traditional Mediterranean way of eating delivered many health benefits, including lower body mass index (BMI), reduced risk of obesity, and lowered incidence of diseases and chronic conditions such as several types of cancer, Type II diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Conversely, the more that the study participants strayed from the traditional Mediterranean diet, the more likely they were to be overweight and develop health problems.

Researchers Sing Praises of the French Diet

For decades, scientists have puzzled over what they call the "French Paradox" -- why do the French, whose diets are comparatively high in fat and other "unhealthy" ingredients, suffer less obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer than their American counterparts?

It appears that the answer may be that the traditional French diet isn't so "unhealthy," after all. Recent research has indicated that many of the high-fat foods in which the French regularly indulge actually have health-enhancing properties. Even when compared to Americans on a low-fat diet, the French suffer an exponentially lower rate of obesity and other health problems.

Although this shouldn't be seen as license to begin consuming large quantities of croissants and baguettes, researchers recommend gradually incorporating more fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and "good" fats -- such as olive oil -- into your diet.

Check with your doctor before you overhaul your eating habits, and check back each week for more of the diet research news that can help speed your path to weight loss!