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Health - South American People

Are the people of Colombia, and for that matter South America healthy?

When I was in Colombia I noticed that in the resturants, the food is not salty, buttery, oily, not full of cheese.
I ate in several homes, and I notice that the people eat a lot of tuna, broiled chicken, steak, rice.

I didn't see much eating of sauage, bacon.
The bread I was served mostly was wheat, not much white bread.

When you look at the majority of the people, they are small, medium, frame.

The women have beautiful bodies, nice hair, fingernails. The men are thinned framed or medium, until you get to your much older men, and women, but still relatively in good shape.

I notice school age children, not that plump, as american children.

All of this is on the surface, but do the people of Colombia have many health problems, teeth problems, stomach problems, high blood pressure, etc.....?

If there are serious health problems among Colombians, what accounts for the problems when it appears that their eating habits are much better than Americans, and probably most other places in the world? Do Colombians go to the doctor often? Does the country pay for health care?

People walk a lot, ride bikes, appear to be more physically active, so does the outer appearance, go hand in hand with the health of the people of this country.

For those who have married Colombian women, and men, do you notice that they seem more healthier.

Even the dancing of Colombia requires more movement of the body, hips, etc

So are the people more healthier than most countries, considering it too, to be a third world country?

By southernman on Feb 27, 2006, 17:57 in Friendly Talkzone.

Rubiazo says on Feb 27, 2006, 20:01:

IMO the #1 reason Colombian food is healthier is that they don't put as many chemicals and additives in it as they do in countries like the USA. Here the milk is full of antibiotics and Bovine Growth Hormone, as is all the beef. The chicken is even worse. They give the chickens nasty drugs to get them to grow up to slaughter size faster. The fruit is all sprayed with nasty shit people are often allergic to, and good fresh food can be very hard to find.

Having to walk a lot more and not sitting in a car to get everywhere has a lot to do with it too, but I don't think Colombians have necessarily better eating habits than Americans at all. I have known Colombians to come here and get fatter and fatter by the month!

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utopiacowboy says on Feb 27, 2006, 22:20:

Have you ever noticed in a Colombian city how many people are riding bicycles or walking? You'll see more people travelling under their own power in five minutes than you would see in five days in a North American city. We drive our fat asses everywhere and once a Colombian comes here, he or she starts driving their fat ass everywhere too. The kids are the worst - they've confused their mother for their personal chauffeur. Make the sons a bitches walk!

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Rubiazo says on Feb 27, 2006, 23:59:

i LOVE hot food and had no shortage of it down there! Wtf are you guys talking about? Most restaurants have aji natural right there at every table, it's not super crazy hot but it has a nice kick to it.

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Boatygringo says on Mar 1, 2006, 12:08:

Health I know I will get jumped on for this but my observation is this. Colombians don't have the extra money to pig out like Gringoes do. They seem to eat two meals a day the main meal in the poor areas is soup with everything in it and yes they walk and rid bicycles be cause thats all they can afford to do, so they are much fitter than most Americans. There will be some who disagree with me but there is a lot of poverty in Colombia and yes hunger, just travel outside the big cities and keep your eyes open, a lot don't get enough to eat to get fat, a lot of the girls have bloated bellies, no there not pregnant it's from eating a poor diet, yes they catch a lot of colds and flue, the Gripe as they call it. One the other hand have you seen what a lot of those small Colombian Men and Girls can carry, I watched them unloading a boat in Amazona, T/V's refrigerators washing machines and air conditioners all unloaded by on some one's shoulder all day long, some of the guys didn't weigh 150lb real tough hombre's I couldn't do it and I am 6.2 and 225lb. and you must have seen the little boys carrying wood down the road for fire wood. They are a tough people in deed. I don't know what the life expectancy is in Colombia but there isn't too many old guys around especially poor old guys, They girls out live the guys so thats why there are soooop many chicas available. and you thought they wanted you for your charm and personality. I speek from observation and have spent some time in the poorer areas.

Boatygringo

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kernow62 says on Mar 1, 2006, 13:37:

True Morphus many Americans are living to be 80+ despite their health problems, it doesn't mean they are healthy or that they enjoy the same quality of life as a similarly aged person elsewhere. How many do you see that pull up to somewhere in their big old car and unload a electric scooter to go 20 feet to the front door of the all-you-can-eat buffet. All this so the damn drug companies can profit on keeping people alive.

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poco says on Mar 1, 2006, 21:24:

Health and food. This is fact,, there is a LOT of cancer in Colombia where I'm located.

I can’t determine why,, maybe the sun or water but more than likely it’s the chemicals they use for farming. I personally avoid purchasing fruit OR chickens from an unknown source. She was the one who mentioned it first,, She KNOWs all about farming because she was raised on a farm.

We look for “in season” deals. Mango season was finished at the end of January. We purchased these Mangos from a neighbor who has a huge tree. Half of a 5 gallon bucket for 2,000 pesos. These smaller Mangos, at this stage of development, make the best juice.

A U.S. supermarket had the BIG mangos listed at 5 for a DOLLAR last week. Kind of burned out on mangos but bought 3. The taste was similar to the Colombian variety, tasty, next trip,, ooops, 89 cents each.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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Rubiazo says on Mar 2, 2006, 02:35:

HEH here shitty mangos that have travelled WAY too far for their own good are $3-4 USD EACH right now :(
I don't see it as an extra money thing. Fact is, good healthy foods cost 10% of what they do here in the States, or less (if you can even FIND stuff of that quality here!), so even if on average they make 1/5 of what we do they have a lot more purchasing power when it comes to food.
One main difference between Colombia and the US is that the cheapest stuff is the best for you, and all the processed crappy stuff is more expensive, whereas here, the cheapest stuff is all the processed stuff.

That much more people are forced to walk or use a bicycle is unquestionable, though! And I'm sure it helps public health tremendously too!

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poco says on Mar 2, 2006, 07:24:

Cheap stuff !!! One main difference between Colombia and the US is that the cheapest stuff is the best for you, and all the processed crappy stuff is more expensive, whereas here, the cheapest stuff is all the processed stuff.

I have a suspicion that food costs in the U.S. might be the same or lower (except for fruits),,, IF you purchased and prepared food in a similar fashion.

Rice is the number one food. You buy it crude (not minute rice!!), beans are the same but require a pressure cooker, fried platanos, hand made arepas, meat purchased from a butcher shop, eggs, milk delivered to house then boiled.

A farmer took a bowl, stuck it under a goat and offered me a drink of milk. I declined because it might cause an evening of sitting on the pot. However, other people didn’t mind and appreciated the gesture.

Yes, life is tough. Hard to believe all those “little kids” suffer so much. There should be a law for those cruel folks who send their kids to purchase a 10 pound Guanabana.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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Rubiazo says on Mar 3, 2006, 00:39:

at Poco you CAN get food in a similar fashion here it just costs you a hell of a lot of money and is very inconvenient because it is not the norm.

Rice IMO is horrible food for you. White rice has a higher glycemic index than pure sugar. Not all Colombians or all South Americans for that matter are lovers of rice, many of them avoid it like the plague!

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Mar 3, 2006, 03:59:

What about to bring a bun

What about to bring a bunch of Bananas :)

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