Mod 2.4 - Part 2 Is there an optimal diet for human health?

Question 1

What are the blue zones?

Answer 1

• Highest concentration of those who live 100+
• Low disease rates
• Typically eat some meat and often dairy and eggs
• Foods are typically local
• typically eat wholegrains, legumes etc

Question 2

Blue zone understanding comes from what kind of research?

Answer 2

Ancestral research / observational - - remember = correlation is not causation

Question 3

What are some key benefits of wholegrains and legumes?

Answer 3

• reduced colorectal cancer risk
• protects against heart disease and stroke
• lower type 2 diabetes and heart disease
• anti cancer, antioxidant etc
• decreases LDL cholesterol
• reduced overall mortality
• favourable effects on fasting lipid levels and waist circumference

Question 4

What are some key themes of ‘optimal eating’ ?

Answer 4

General tips:

• less industrialised foods
• less processed
• less refined sugars
• limited intake of certain processed fats etc
• emphasis on wholegrain, possibly some lean meats (individual preference), fish, poultry, seafood etc