Heart Health
Traditional Chinese diets: A template for healthy eating habits
This popular cuisine highlights foods linked to cardiovascular health, such as vegetables, soy-based foods, pungent flavorings, and tea.
- Reviewed by Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Chinese food has long ranked high on the list of Americans' favorite ethnic cuisines. Of course, restaurant offerings don't always reflect the traditional daily fare eaten in China. Some popular but less-healthful menu items — such as pork spare ribs and fried dough sticks — should be reserved for the occasional indulgence. Still, you can find lots of healthy options when dining out at a Chinese restaurant, and it's not hard to make your own healthy Chinese food at home, says Lilian Cheung, editorial director of the Nutrition Source at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource).
Chinese home cooking
"In general, traditional Chinese cooking has a lot of merit," says Cheung, a native of Hong Kong. Many staple foods, such as vegetables, tofu, and seafood, are all linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. So are the unsaturated oils (such as canola, soy, or peanut oil) frequently used to prepare Chinese dishes.
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About the Author
Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter
About the Reviewer
Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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