Cultural Competency - Multicultural Health Generalizations: Dietary Practices
Hindu Dietary Practices
- In keeping with their belief in non-violence towards all living things, many Hindus are vegetarian.
- Hindus may be offended by any form of meat from cows, since cows are considered sacred animals.
- A customary eating schedule for many Hindus would include a light meal in the morning, heavy meal at midday, and another light meal in the evening.
- According to Hindu dietary law, the right hand is used for eating, while the left hand is used for toileting and hygiene.
- Personal hygiene is very important and bathing is required every
day; bathing after a meal may be viewed as injurious. - Various Hindus may fast on different days depending upon the god they choose to worship. Fasting may refer to no food or to one meal a day.
Sources: Minarik, P. A. (1996). Culture and Nursing Care: A Pocket Guide. California: University of California.
Workforce Development and Diversity Strategies Division, Corporate Human Resources. (1999). Ethnic Resource Guide. Hinduism. p.71. (3rd. ed.) Michigan: Henry Ford Health System.
Jewish Dietary Laws
Jewish dietary laws, also known as the laws of kashrut or kosher laws, are very important in Judaism. These laws regulate virtually every aspect of eating, including:
- which animals may be eaten. Animals that may be eaten are those that part the hoof, and are cloven-footed, and chew the cud, such as cattle, sheep, and goats. Sea creatures that have fins and scales are also acceptable. While most non-predatory fowl are permitted, only eggs from kosher fowl may be eaten. Animals that do not meet these criteria, such as pigs, are forbidden.
- the method of slaughter (the laws of shechitah which are designed to lessen the suffering of animals) by a trained religious person known as a schochet. However, these laws do not apply to fish or invertabrates.
- the method of preparing meat and poultry (known as kashering), which primarily involves removing as much of the blood as possible.
- a prohibition against cooking or eating dairy products along with meat (fish is excluded from this prohibition). This prohibition has been extended by the rabbis so that religious Jews have separate sets of dishes, pots, and utensils for meat and dairy dishes, and do not wash anything used for meat along with anything used for dairy products. Jews also wait a number of hours (the amount depending on the tradition of the individual) after eating meat (again fish is excluded) before consuming any dairy product.
- the prohibition of certain foods during the festival of Pesach (Passover). Any food or food product containing fermented grain products (chametz) may not be used or remain in a Jew's possession on Passover. Jews of Eastern European descent might also not eat many legumes (kitniot) and products containing them as ingredients throughout Passover.
While not strictly part of the kosher laws, there are other laws and traditions associated with eating, including the ritual washing of hands, with an associated blessing, blessings over various foods, and bircat hamazon (blessings of gratitude and praise recited after the meal).
Sources: Purnell, L. D., and Paulanka, B. J. 1998. Transcultural Health Care: A culturally competent approach. Philadelphia: F. A. Davis Company.
Schwartz, R., Ph.D. Vegetarianism and the Jewish dietary laws. (Online). http://schwartz.enviroweb.org/dietlaws.html (disabled) (2002, Aug. 23).
Redirected to: http://www.jewishveg.com/schwartz/dietlaws.html
Chinese Dietary Practices
The Chinese diet is generally vegetarian, although meat is still served. Little information is available about dietary deficiencies in the Chinese diet. However, the life span of Chinese is long enough to suggest that severe dietary deficiencies are not common. Periodically, some deficiencies such as rickets and goiters have occurred. The Chinese government has added iodine into the water supplies and encouraged the eating of fish rich in iron to enhance the diets of people with goiters. Furthermore, Native Chinese generally do not drink milk or eat milk products because of a genetic tendency for lactose intolerance. However, their selection of green vegetables limits the incidence of calcium deficits. Healthcare providers might consider screening newer immigrants for these deficiencies and assist patients in planning a culturally sensitive and healthy diet as necessary. In addition, most Chinese do not eat desserts high in sugar content. Their desserts are usually peeled or sliced fruits or desserts made of bean and bean curd. The higher death rate from diabetes in Western countries may be due to a change from the typical Chinese diet with few sweets to a Western diet with many sweets.
Source: Purnell, L. D., & Paulanka, B. J. (1998). Transcultural Health Care: A Culturally Competent Approach . Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis Company.
Navajo Indians and Nutrition
- Food has major significance beyond nourishment in American Indian populations; it is offered to family and friends or may be burned to feed higher powers and those who have died (Discharry, 1986).
- Life events are celebrated with food. Food is the center of all dances and many healing and religious ceremonies.
- Sheep is a major source of meat, and sheep brains are considered a delicacy by the Navajo.
- In years past, it was taboo for the Navajo to eat chicken. This is no longer the case, and now chicken is an integral part of their diet. In fact, chicken is so popular that commercial fast-food chicken establishments have emerged on the Navajo reservation. A concurrent increased incidence of gallbladder disease is attributed to this dietary practice.
- American Indian diets may be deficient in vitamin D because many individuals suffer from lactose intolerance or do not drink milk.
- After some ceremonies, individuals may not eat salt or particular foods. For example, during initiation into some American Indian societies, young boys have a restricted diet. It is important for the health-care provider to assess whether a ceremony has been recently performed and ask if there are specific food restrictions.
- Herbs are used in the treatment of many illness to cleanse the body of ill spirits or poisons.
Source: Purnell, L. D., & Paulanka, B. J. (1998). Transcultural Health Care: A Culturally Competent Approach . Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis Company.
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