In a mountainous region of northern Pakistan, lies the Hunza Valley – an isolated area of the Himalayas, home to a community of people said to survive longer than anyone on Earth, living well over a century. So, what are the health secrets to the Hunza people’s longevity?
Health secrets of Hunza people.
1. The grains, fruits, and vegetables from the
Gardens, and much of the food was consumed
raw.
Health benefits
Eating a diet rich in vegetables and fruits as part of an overall healthy diet may reduce risk for heart disease, including heart attack and stroke.
Eating a diet rich in some vegetables and fruits as part of an overall healthy diet may protect against certain types of cancers.
Diets rich in foods containing fiber, such as some vegetables and fruits, may reduce the risk of heart disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.
Eating vegetables and fruits rich in potassium as part of an overall healthy diet may lower blood pressure, and may also reduce the risk of developing kidney stones and help to decrease bone loss.
Eating foods such as vegetables that are lower in calories per cup instead of some other higher-calorie food may be useful in helping to lower calorie intake.
2. Hunzas eat only two meals a day.
The first meal is served at twelve noon, although the Hunzas are up every morning at five a.m. This may sound surprising, since most nutrition experts here in the west stress the importance of a hearty breakfast, even though our life-style is relatively sedentary compared to that of the Hunzas, who engage in demanding physical labor all morning long on an empty stomach.Unlike most Westerners, Hunzas eat primarily for the establishment and maintenance of health rather than for pleasure, although they are very meticulous when preparing their food, which, by the way, happens to be delicious.In addition, Hunza food is completely natural, containing no chemical additives whatsoever. Unfortunately, that is not the case as far as most of our food is concerned. Everything is as fresh as it can possibly be, and in its original unsalted state.
3. Air.
The Hunzakuts live atop a mountain range that is tens of thousands of feet high. It is unpolluted. While we can’t all move to a place like Hunza, we can get to the mountains, deserts and seasides or the large parks with lots of greenery as often as possible. Give your body a break, let it breath clean fresh air as often as is possible. You can also purify, refresh and revitalize (enhance the oxygen) in your house and office with plenty of plants.There are also available air purifiers that will give you healthier air to breathe indoors.*
4.Pure & Live Water.
Water is vital to our health. Most water available to us has chemicals used to counter-attack harmful bacteria that we dump into our water supplies in the form of wastes.While it is hard to get any good water, we can at least get spring water that is closest to the kind of water that has nourished humans. Spring water if USUALLY purified in a natural way as it sinks through layers of granite and into the water-table. If you can’t get the ultimate, get a good substitute.
5.Wholesome Hunza Natural Food:
So what do the Hunzas eat? Unlike most Westerners, Hunzas eat primarily for the health rather than pleasure. They do have delicious food.Here is an outline of the specific diet of the people of Hunza. It can be used as a guide for a balanced, natural and healthy diet.Hunza food is completely natural, containing no chemical additives. Everything is as fresh as it can possibly be, and in its original unsalted state. The only “processing” consists of drying some fresh fruits in the sun, and making butter and cheese out of milk.No chemicals or artificial fertilizers are used in their gardens. In fact, it is against the law of Hunza to spray gardens with pesticides. The Hunzas eat as they live – organically.The Hunzas do not eat a lot. But what exactly do they eat?They eat fruits and vegetables on a regular basis. For the most part they are raw, uncooked and live food including every kind of sprout, although some vegetables are cooked for a short time. Their preferred fruits and vegetables include lots of green leaves, fruits, grain and some nuts. Their grains consist of WHOLE GRAIN wheat, barley, buckwheat, corn, millet, alfalfa and rye Their vegetables are potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, string beans, peas, turnip, squash, spinach, lettuce. Their fruits are mulberries, apricots, grapes, apples, pears, peaches, apricots, cherries and blackberries.
These are important sources of animal protein. Meat, although not completely eliminated, is consumed only very rarely. This may be one of the reasons why the Hunzas have such healthy digestive systems. Even when meat is served, portions are very small: meat is cut into small pieces and stewed for a long time. The important thing to remember is that although the Hunzas are not wholly vegetarian, meat forms a minimal part of their daily diet.Like grains, fruits and vegetables, yogurt is also a staple of the Hunza diet. Yogurt, which replenishes intestinal flora, is extremely beneficial for the human organism.
Walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, beechnuts, etc. also comprise an important part of the Hunza diet. Along with fruit, or mixed into salads, nuts often constitute an entire meal.
7. Exercise.
Another great Hunza health secret concerns the considerable amount of time each day devoted to physical exercise. Due to their mountainous environment, they do a great deal of hiking up and down.Most exercise is done outdoors in order to take advantage of the pure mountain air, which in itself has a beneficial effect on health. But one thing the Hunza life-style does prove is that exercise is very important for health.Walking is the simplest, and most accessible form, of exercise there is. And contrary to what you may think, it also provides you with a complete workout. Although a large part of their day is spent outdoors, working the fields, the Hunzas do a lot more than that. For one thing, they take regular walks – a 15 or 20 kilometer hike is considered quite normal. Of course they don’t walk that distance every day, but doing so does not require any special effort. You should also keep in mind that hiking along mountain trails is a lot more demanding than walking over flat terrain.
Sunshine is the only source of natural energy for every living thing upon this earth. All life – plant or animal, needs the energy of the sun. The human body also needs this energy. The sun supplies our bodies with a number of valuable nutritional elements in the form of vitamins. It is noted that people who are deprived of sunlight are more depressed than those who get their fair share. It helps you sleep at night. Get a moderate amount of sunshine.
9. Self Doubt And The Fear Of Failure.
Self doubt and the fear of failure, which tend to undermine the well-being of so many people, are unknown to the Hunzas.The Hunzas seem to be completely immune to these kinds of stress-related health problems. They are perfectly adapted to their environment, and to their way of life. In some respects they are like children – happy in the present moment, not worried about the future. But at the same time they possess the wisdom of the sages. We are the mirror of our thoughts. The serenity and vitality of the Hunzas proves that they have attained perfect mastery over their thoughts, and possess what is so sorely lacking among people here in the west: peace of mind.
Fasting will give your digestive system a rest and your body a chance to cleanse itself. To the Hunzas, knowing when to take a break and using the time to relax is instinctive. Living in the present moment is a good way to live. and the Hunzas, both young and old, practice it regularly, doing short meditation sessions a number of times a day. Although they work very hard for long hours each day, the Hunzas are familiar with the art of relaxation and energy management. For one thing, they tend to work at a slow steady pace instead of in frenetic bursts. This saves both time and energy over the long run, and allows them to accomplish more than they would by overextending themselves, and then becoming exhausted. The Hunzas know that you can work much longer if you are not tense, since nervous and muscular tension result in a considerable waste of energy.
In addition to working slowly, the Hunzas take short but regular breaks, during which they practice various meditation and relaxation techniques. Although these exercises take only a few minutes, they are incredibly effective for recharging energy.
Fitness Forever 