| I recently returned from a two-week tour of | | | | there has been recent research with "resistant |
| China. What a fascinating place! Hiking on the | | | | starch" - some of the starch in rice, potatoes, and |
| Great Wall, viewing the Terracotta Warriors, | | | | pasta can't be digested, and thus is called resistant |
| cruising the Yangtze, touring fabulous Shanghai - | | | | starch - cooling the food increases the amount of |
| these are just a few highlights of the trip. And | | | | resistant starch. |
| the people - it was hard not to notice how | | | | Bread and Desserts: Our guide told us that most |
| slender the Chinese were. After eating for two | | | | Chinese do not have ovens - they do not eat |
| weeks as the Chinese do (we were on a tour | | | | bread (they do make steamed buns), nor do they |
| that ate at local restaurants with authentic | | | | make cake or cookies (they do have bakeries if |
| Chinese food), I can see why they are so slim. | | | | they need to get them for a special occasion, |
| The Chinese have long integrated many of the | | | | such as having Western guests!) And, |
| tips we have learned for losing/maintaining weight: | | | | interestingly, eating cookies or ice cream is |
| Size of Plates: We ate family style at the | | | | considered childish. Most adult Chinese do not eat |
| restaurants, and the plates were usually the size | | | | them. |
| of my salad plate at home. Visually, it gave the | | | | Tea: We've heard the praises of tea before - |
| impression of a lot of food - psychologically | | | | how the polyphenols, amino acids, and antioxidants |
| satisfying. | | | | in tea promote a stronger immune system, speed |
| Chopsticks: Although the Chinese were proficient | | | | up metabolism, and increase mental alertness. |
| with chopsticks, chopsticks (especially for me) | | | | Finally, although not food-related, it is interesting to |
| slowed down the rate of eating. This allowed my | | | | note all the walking, riding of bikes, and social |
| brain to tell my stomach I was full much sooner | | | | support. Public transportation is encouraged and |
| than usual. I'm ordinarily a very fast eater. | | | | inexpensive (if you saw the traffic in the cities |
| Food: The emphasis is on vegetables; minimally | | | | you'd see why), and throngs of Chinese were |
| processed and lots of green (cabbage, broccoli, | | | | walking, walking, walking (including getting to the |
| bok choy, celery). Meat (chicken, duck, beef, | | | | bus stops), or biking, biking, biking. Older Chinese |
| pork) plays a secondary role to the veggies. Lots | | | | routinely go to parks to practice their Tai Chi, play |
| of river fish (eating the small bones is a source of | | | | with Hacky-sacks (remember them?), and throw |
| calcium). And, there was always soup available. If | | | | soft rings from one person to another and catch |
| you're familiar with the concept of Volumetrics | | | | them around their necks (I was invited to |
| (check out research from Dr. Barbara Rolls), you | | | | participate in this fun activity). And, the tea |
| know that low-calorie soup is filling, and results in | | | | houses, parks, and culture encourage lots of social |
| fewer calories consumed. (Disclosure: although I | | | | support, which is also important for lower stress |
| tried many of the soups, I did pass on Pigeon | | | | (stress can lead to increased cortisol production |
| soup.) | | | | and weight gain). |
| Then, of course, there is the rice. Although rice is | | | | You've heard the Bangles sing "Walk like an |
| fairly high on the glycemic index, the addition of | | | | Egyptian"...I'm going to start eating like the Chinese! |
| the vegetables helps to mitigate that effect. And, | | | | |