As you know, the general state of human health depends on proper nutrition. One of the main criteria for proper nutrition can be the indicator of the life expectancy of certain ethnic groups. The inhabitants of the Caucasus are distinguished by their longevity. So what is included in their diet?
1. Fermented milk products. The consumption of dairy products provides a healthy intestinal microflora, increases the protective properties of the body, and reduces the risk of cancer. The inhabitants of the Caucasus drink goat or cow milk - boiled or sour (ahartsvy), often with honey. Special starter cultures and recipes of fermented milk products make it possible to make healthy drinks - ayran, yogurt, narine.
2. Cheese. Cheeses are easy to digest. The cheese contains a nutritious and balanced protein-fat complex, which contains 20-30% fat and 20-25% protein. This is the famous suluguni cheese, sour milk cheese ashvadza, ashvchapan - like suluguni, stuffed with cheese with mint and poured with a spicy sour milk sauce. Traditional wineskin cheese (achayur), cream (achat), curd mass (akhacha), smoked cheese (ashv ryua) are also popular.
3. Meat. Goat, lamb, beef are most valued. One of the festive dishes is khinkal. Lamb broth and handmade dough cakes. The inhabitants of the Caucasus do not eat pork, horse meat, even fish are treated with caution. Game is also consumed. The traditional dish is chicken and chicken fried on a spit, boiled chicken with adjika, poultry stew in a nut sauce with herbs.
4. Honey. Honey occupies a special place in the diet of centenarians. It is consumed regularly. The attitude towards sweets is restrained. Traditionally, sweet dishes are prepared - churchkhela-kernels of walnuts, candied in one stripped grape juice, pakhvala, they like halva, sweet fruits.
5. Wine. In the daily meal of centenarians, it is customary to drink about 3 glasses of low-alcohol homemade wine.
6. Hot spices and herbs. Caucasian cuisine is simply unthinkable without hot spices. Adjika is always present on the table. This is a hot seasoning. Consists of 1/4 of hot red pepper, to which garlic is added, a little salt and spices. All dishes are usually richly seasoned with spices - basil, cilantro, mint, dill.
7. Corn. Cururuza plays a role in the prevention of atherosclerosis, urolithiasis, obesity, diabetes, prostatitis. They eat boiled corn, boil hominy - thin corn porridge with sour milk, sometimes with nut butter, bake tortillas and corn loaves.
8. Walnuts. The calorie content of walnuts is 7 times higher than beef meat. Walnuts contain proteins, fatty oil, carbohydrates and amino acids necessary for a person. Walnuts are an indispensable component of many meat, vegetable, dairy and flour dishes. Walnut butter and nut sauce are made from nuts.
9. Wild edible plants - wild garlic, purslane, nettle, shiritsa, sverbyga, susak. These wild-growing edible plants are used as a filling, added to salads and hot dishes.
10. Vegetables and fruits. The fiber content in vegetables helps to improve digestion, reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The diet contains a varied amount of vegetable salads with the addition of onions, cabbage, green beans, beet tops, cilantro. Due to the southern climate, many citrus fruits, tea bush, persimmon, feijoa, kiwi, and grapes grow in the Caucasus.
