FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Oldways Unveils Updated Asian Diet Pyramid & Resources

BOSTON, July 11, 2018– Oldways, along with an advisory committee of scientific experts, has updated its Asian Diet Pyramid to help families return to traditional Asian foods and meals. In the style of Oldways’ other traditional diet pyramids (Mediterranean, Latin American Heritage, African Heritage, and Vegetarian), the newly released Asian Diet Pyramid has been made over with fresh illustrations of what to eat and the relative proportion of each food group, based on the wealth of research on healthy Asian diets that’s been published in recent years.

“The recipes, food pairings, and cultural traditions of the Asian Diet Pyramid act as an enticing guide for how to work a variety of nutritious ingredients into one cohesive healthy lifestyle,” said Kelly Toups, Oldways Director of Nutrition. “This is important to help combat diet-related diseases, such as diabetes and obesity, as traditional foods get left behind.”

The revised pyramid more vividly depicts the traditional foods shared by the many diverse cultures of central and eastern Asia: vegetables, strong spices and sauces, rice and noodles, pulses, whole grains, tofu and soy products, and seafood in coastal communities. To inspire and educate people about this healthy and affordable eating pattern, Oldways has also created a user-friendly Asian Diet 101 brochure, along with thematic handouts.

Oldways’ scientific advisory committee included Dr. Frank Hu, chair of the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, as well as esteemed researchers in both the U.S. and Asia.

“There is growing scientific evidence to support health benefits of consuming plant-based eating patterns. The traditional Asian diet pattern features many healthful plant components, including green leafy and other vegetables, whole fruits, beans and soy, nuts (including peanuts) and seeds, herbs, and spices, as well as low-calorie beverages such as green and red tea. The Asian Diet Pyramid is a useful tool to translate healthy Asian diet traditions into modern-day practice,” said Hu.

Oldways developed the original Asian Diet Pyramid in 1995 at the International Conference on the Diets of Asia in San Francisco in collaboration with the Cornell-China-Oxford Project on Nutrition, Health and Environment, and the Harvard School of Public Health.

About Oldways 
Oldways is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving public health via traditional eating choices. They offer educational programs and recipes based on cultural heritage, the goodness of whole grains, and the practices of traditional cheese-making and are best known for creating the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid and the Whole Grain Stamp. Find out more at http://www.oldwayspt.org.

For press inquiries and more information, contact: media@oldwayspt.org

 

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