Hunza diet facts for kids

The Hunza cuisine is a special way of eating followed by the Burusho people. They are also called the Hunza people, and they live in northern Pakistan. Some people believe this diet is very unique and can help people live longer and healthier lives.

This diet mainly includes fresh, uncooked foods. People eat lots of nuts, fresh vegetables, dried vegetables, mint, fruits, and seeds. They often add yogurt to their meals. For dinner, they might have a cooked meal like daal (a lentil dish) with chappati (a type of flatbread).

One great thing about the Hunza diet is that it's often inexpensive. Many of the foods can even be grown or produced by the people themselves. In the 1970s, the Hunza lifestyle was even mentioned in a special calendar about health, published by the American Health Institute.

Who Talked About the Hunza Diet?

Some people have studied the Hunza diet and believe it has amazing benefits.

Robert McCarrison's Studies

An Irish doctor named Robert McCarrison is thought to have visited the Hunza region a long time ago, when the British Raj ruled the area. He was very interested in their diet. Later, he reportedly tested this diet on rats back in England. The results, it is claimed, showed that the rats lived longer lives.

Jay Hoffman's Ideas

Another person who wrote about the Hunza was Jay Hoffman. He suggested that humans should be able to live much longer, perhaps up to 120 to 150 years. He compared humans to animals like cats, dogs, and horses. Hoffman believed that the Hunza diet was the main reason for the Hunza people's supposed long lives.