Dolina reke Hunza

Dolinu rijeke Hunza, na granici Indije i Pakistana, zovu "Oaza mladosti". ivotni vijek
stanovnika ove doline je 110 - 120 godina. Oni se skoro nikada ne razbolijevaju i izgledaju
mladoliko.
Znai, postoji neki nain ivota, priblian idealnom, kada se ljudi osjeaju zdravi, sreni, ne stare,
kao u drugim zemljama ve od 40-50 godina starosti. Zanimljivo je da stanovnici doline rijeke
Hunza, za razliku od susjednih naroda, izgledaju slino Evropljanima, kao Kalai, koji ive u
blizini.
Prema legendi, ovu malenu planinsku dravu osnovala je grupa vojnika Aleksandra Velikog
tokom indijskog pohoda. Oni su, naravno, uspostavili tu strogu vojnu disciplinu, takvu da su
stanovnici sa maevima i titovima morali da spavaju i jedu, pa ak i igraju ...
Hunze se sa ironijom odnose prema tome da ih jo uvijek neko u svijetu zove gortacima. Pa, u
stvari, nije li oigledno da s pravom to ime treba da nose ljudi koji ive u blizini uvenog
"stecita planina", mjesta gdje se spajaju tri najvea planinska sistema u svijetu:
Himalaji, Karakorum i Hindu Ku. Od 14 vrhova na planeti koji su preko osam hiljada, pet su u
blizini, ukljuujui i drugi vrh posle Everesta K2 (8,611 metara), ije se osvajanje u planinarskom
drutvu cijeni ak i vie nego osvajanje omolungma (Mont Everest). A ta rei o ne manje
proslavljenoj "planini ubici" Nanga Parbat (8126 metara), na kojoj je sahranjen rekordan broj
planinara?

Proi kroz ove kamene masive nije mogue, ako nijeste sportista svetske klase. Moete se samo
"provui" uskim prevojima, klisurama, stazama. Od davnina, te rijetke staze kontrolisale su
kneevine, koji su oporezivali sve prolazee karavane. Smatra se da su Hunze meu njima jedni
od najuticajnijih.
U svijetu ovaj "Izgubljeni svijet" je malo poznat, ne samo zbog geografskog razloga, ve i
politikog: Hunze, zajedno sa nekim drugim narodima u dolini Himalaja, nalaze se na teritoriji na
kojoj se skoro 60 godina vodi spor izmeu Indije i Pakistana.

Jedna od glavnih atrakcija Hunza je lednik koji se irokom hladnom rijekom sputa u dolinu. Na
mnogim terasastim poljima, uzgaja se krompir, povre i konoplja, koju ovdje ne samo da pue
ve je dodaju kao zain jelima od mesa i supama.
Kajsija je nesumnjivo glavna vrijednost vrtova Hunza. Cio Pakistan zna da samo ovdje raste
"plod Hunza" iz kog izbija mirisni sok jo na drveu.

Zdravlje
Hunze se kupaju u ledenoj vodi, ak i na temperaturi 15 stepeni ispod nule, sa sto godina igraju, a
40-godinje ene izgledaju kao djevojke, sa 60 godina imaju skladnu i savrenu figuru, sa 65
godina raaju djecu. Ljeti jedu sirovo voe i povre a u zimskom periodu - suene na suncu
kajsije, proklijale itarice, oviji sir.
Interesantno, postoji jo jedna stvar: Hunze imaju period kada voe jo nije zrelo, taj period zovu
"gladno proljee", on traje od dva do etiri mjeseca. U ovim mjesecima, oni skoro nita ne jedu,
samo jednom dnevno piju napitak od suve kajsije. Ovaj post je kod njih uzdignut do kulta i strogo
se potuje.
kotski ljekar MekKarison, koji je prvi opisao srenu dolinu, naglaavao je da je upotreba
proteina kod njih na najniem normalnom nivou, ako se uopte on moe nazvati normalnim.
Dnevno Hunze unose u prosjeku 1933 kalorije koje sadre 50 g proteina, 36 g masti, 365 g ugljenih
hidrata.
kot koji je ivio u neposrednoj blizini doline Hunza 14 godina, doao je do zakljuka da je
ishrana glavni faktor dugovjenosti ovog naroda. Ako se ovjek ne hrani pravilno, od bolesti ga
ne moe spasiti ni planinska klima. S toga ne iznenauje da komije Hunza koji ive u istim
klimatskim uslovima, stradaju od najrazliitijih bolesti. Njihov ivotni vijek je dva puta krai.

MekKarison, po povratku u Englesku, napravio je zanimljiv eksperiment na velikom broju

ivotinja. Jedna grupa ivotinja se hranila normalnom hranom londonske radnike porodice
(bijeli hleb, haringa, rafinisani eer, konzerve i kuvano povre). Kao rezultat toga, kod ove
grupa su poele da se pojavljuju razliite "ljudske bolesti". Druge ivotinje koje su hranjene
hranom Hunza tokom eksperimenta bile su savreno zdrave.
U knjizi "Hunza - ljudi koji ne znaju za bolesti" R. Bircher istie sledee veoma znaajne
karakteristike modela ishrane u ovoj zemlji:
- Prije svega, on je vegetarijanski;
- Velika koliina sirovih namirnica;
- U ishrani dominiraju voe i povre;
- Prirodni proizvodi, bez ikakve primjene hemije i pripremljeni uz ouvanje svih bioloki
vrijednih materija;
- Alkohol i slatkie upotrebljavaju izuzetno rijetko;
- Veoma umjereno upotrebljavaju so;
- Proizvode uzgajaju samo na svom pododinom zemljitu;
- Redovan period gladovanja.
Uz to treba dodati i druge faktori koji doprinose zdravom starenju. Ali nain ishrane ovdje ima
nesumljivo, veliki znaaj, presudan.
Godine 1963., Hunze je posjetila francuska medicinska ekspedicija. Kao rezultat njihovog popisa,
utvreno je da je prosjeni ivotni vijek Hunza 120 godina, to je duplo vie nego kod
Evropljana. U avgustu 1977., u Parizu, na meunarodnom kongresu o kancerogenim oboljenjima

je izjavljeno: "U skladu sa podacima geokancerologije, nauka za istraivanje raka u razliitim

regionima svijeta, potpuno odsustvo raka javlja se samo kod naroda Hunza.".

U aprilu 1984., jedan Hong Kongki asopis je saoptio sledei nevjerovatan dogaaj. Jedan od
Hunza, po imenu Said Abdul Mobuda, koji je stigao na londonski aerodrom Hitrou, zbunio je
radnike emigracione slube kada je pokazao paso. Prema tom dokumentu, on je roen u 1823. i
imao je 160 godina. Pratilac Mobuda, Mulla rekao je da se njegov tienik smatra svetim u zemlji
Hunza, koja je poznata po svojoj dugovenosti. Mobuda je odlinog zdravlja i razuma. On pamti
dogaaje od 1850.godine.
Za svoju tajnu dugovjenosti mjetani kau jednostavno: budi vegetarijanac, stalno radi fiziki,
uvijek se krei i ne mijenjaj ritam ivota, tada e ivjeti od 120 do 150 godina. To su obileja svih
Hunza, naroda, koji ima "dobro zdravlje".
Visoka radna sposobnost u najirem smislu rijei, kod Hunza se manifestuje kako pri radu, tako i
tokom plesova i igara. Za njih je proi 100 - 200 kilometara, isto to i za nas proetati oko kue.
Oni se izuzetno lako penju uz strmu planinu da bi prenijeli neku vijest, i vraaju se kui svjei i
veseli.
ivotna radost - Hunze se stalno smiju, oni su uvijek dobro raspoloeni, ak i ako su gladni i
ako im je hladno.
Izuzetna spokojnost - "Hunze imaju jake ivce, kao od konopa, ali suptilne i tanke, kao strune pisao je MekKarison - Oni se nikada ne ljute, ne ale se, nijesu nervozni, ne ispoljavaju
nestrpljenje, ne svaaju se meusobno i sa potpunim duevnim spokojom prevazilaze fiziku bol,
nevolje, buku, itd. "

Dugovenost i izuzetno zdravlje itelja ove doline privukli su panju raznih istraivaa. Za
Hunze je starost od 90 godina uobiajena, dobar deo njih ivi 100 godina ili vie, a vitalnost je i u
toj ivotnoj dobi znatno ouvana. Dugo se mislilo da je ta neobina dugovenost posledica
genetskih faktora. Meutim, istraivanja su pokazala da faktori okruenja igraju vaniju ulogu od

naslea. Ovi faktori su: ishrana koja se prvenstveno temelji na namirnicama biljnog porekla i
jednostavan, prirodan, nain ivota sa mnogo fizike aktivnosti. Narod Hunza ne zna za rak,
kardiovaskularne bolesti, dijabetes i prerano starenje.

Dolina Hunza
Dolina Hunza nalazi se na severu Pakistana blizu granice sa Kinom. Prua se izmeu dva najvia
planinska masiva na Zemlji: Hindukua i Karakoruma. Ova oblast je veoma bogata rekama,
pritokama reke Inda, koje obrazuju duboke doline.Ovo je udaljena, zagonetna i opinjavajua
oblast, kako zbog lepote svojih pejzaa, tako i zbog izrazite dugovenosti svojih itelja. Politiki
gledano, dolina Hunza je najseverniji deo Pakistana, a njeni stanovnici su veinom muslimani.
Narod doline Hunza, koji se drukije naziva narod Buruaski, danas broji oko 87.000 dua. Sve
do 1947. godine, kada su pripojeni Pakistanu, Buruaski su iveli samostalno u okviru male
autonomne himalajske kraljevine u okviru britanske imperije. Na elu kraljevine nalazio se mir
(lokalni naziv za vladara), koji je 1947. svoju zemlju stavio pod okrilje Pakistana. Do doline
Hunza se stie dugim i starim putem koji polazi od Islamabada.Geografska izdvojenost
omoguila je stanovnicima doline Hunza da ouvaju prirodne ivotne navike tokom nekoliko
hiljada godina. Dugovenost i izuzetno zdravlje itelja ove doline privukli su panju raznih
istraivaa. Za Hunze je starost od 90 godina uobiajena, dobar deo njih ivi 100 godina ili vie, a
vitalnost je i u toj ivotnoj dobi znatno ouvana. Dugo se mislilo da je ta neobina dugovenost
posledica genetskih faktora. Meutim, istraivanja su pokazala da faktori okruenja igraju
vaniju ulogu od naslea. Ovi faktori su: ishrana, koja se prvenstveno temelji na namirnicama
biljnog porekla i jednostavan, prirodan, nain ivota sa puno fizike aktivnosti.
Zdrave navike Hunza
Istaknuti ameriki kardiolozi, lekari Tumi i Vajt posetili su ovu oblast 1964. godine i izvrili
razna istraivanja koja su bila objavljena u asopisu Ameriken Hart Durnal (E. G. Toomey, P.W.
White, A brief survey of the heart of aged Hunzas, American Heart Journal, 68:842, 1964.),
jednom od najpoznatijih specijalizovanih asopisa posveenih bolestima srca i krvnih sudova.
Poto su ispitali 25 ljudi starosti od 90 do 110 godina, ova dva lekara dola su do zakljuka da su
svi ispitani imali normalan krvni pritisak, nivo holesterola i rad srca. Narod Hunza ne zna za rak,
kardiovaskularne bolesti, dijabetes i prerano starenje. Oni su utvrdili da narod Hunza ima
jednostavan reim ishrane zasnovan na sveem i suvom vou, oraastim plodovima,
mahunarkama i itaricama. Oni troe mleko u jako malim koliinama, a najvei broj njih svega
jedanput do dvaput godinje okusi meso.

Treba naglasiti da Hunze konzumiraju svega dva obroka dnevno, doruak i ruak, uprkos otrim
klimatskim i geografskim uslovima u kojima ive. Preskakanje veere pomae ovom narodu da
na poinak ode lakog stomaka i da u toku sna snagu namenjenu obnovi organizma ne koristi za
varenje.

Ishrana Hunza
itarice
Znaajan deo ishrane Hunza ine itarice: jeam, proso, penica i heljda. Od celog zrna ovih
itarica pravi se brano. Ono se koristi za izradu beskvasnog hleba zvanog apati, koji Hunze
obavezno jedu uz svaki obrok. Hleb od celog zrna, pored skroba, koji predstavlja glavni sastojak
belog brana i hleba, sadri klicu i omota ili mekinju. Klica je posebno bogata vitaminom E, koji
predstavlja snaan antioksidans i na taj nain znaajnu antikancerogenu materiju.Jedan od
recepata za proizvodnju apati hleba glasi:
2 olje brana od celog zrna penice samlevenog na kamenom mlinu (poto veina nas nema
mogunosti da brano dobije sluei se kamenim mlinom moemo upotrebiti integralno brano
koje nam je na raspolaganju) ili meavina od vie vrsta brana dobijenih od celog zrna;
ajne kaiice soli od povra (mi se moemo posluiti morskom solju) so od povra dobija
se na taj nain to izaberemo neko povre (najee korenasto), recimo celer, operemo, oljutimo
i narendamo ga, a zatim pomeamo sa morskom solju u zapremini 1:3 i stavimo u posudu sa
poklopcem da odstoji 20 sati; potom, meavinu istresemo u tepsiju, stavimo u penicu i suimo na
temperaturi od 80 stepeni, sve dok ne ovrsne; osuenu meavinu izvadimo, prohladimo i to
sitnije sameljemo; uvamo u dobro zatvorenoj staklenoj tegli;
do 1 olje hladne vode.
Pomeati brano i so. Dodati vodu i meati dok se ne napravi kruta jufka. Malo pobranjaviti
povrinu za meenje i mesiti dok jufka ne postane glatka i elastina. Pokriti mokrom krpom i
ostaviti da odstoji 30 minuta. Nakon to je odstojala, jufku kidati i oblikovati loptice veliine 2-3
cm. Loptice razvui oklagijom tako da se dobiju tanki krugovi, iji prenik moe da iznosi i do 18

cm. U blago zagrejanu penicu krugove poreati na pleh ili reetku, koje treba prethodno malo
nauljiti (moemo se sluiti i papirom za peenje). esto okretati. Od jedne jufke dobija se oko 20
apatija.
Voe i povre
Voe i povre predstavljaju redovni deo ishrane naroda Hunza. Oni se najee konzumiraju u
presnom ili sirovom obliku. Ukoliko se neka namirnica termiki obrauje, to je najee povre,
koje se kuva vrlo kratko. Od voa, Hunze najvie jedu: kajsije, jabuke, kruke, breskve, trenje,
dud, kupine i groe. Kajsija se najvie uzgaja, a jede se u sveem i osuenom obliku.

Takoe, konzumira se osueno jezgro kajsije. Hunze koriste svee jezgro kajsije za dobijanje ulja.
Jezgro se melje na kamenom mlinu, a zatim se dobijena masa pritiska izmeu runog kamena i
ravne kamene ploe da bi se dobilo ulje. Ovo ulje se koristi za kuvanje ili kao preliv za salatu od
zelenog povra. Ono slui i kao losion za lice i kosu. Meutim, njegova upotreba nije esta.
Kajsija slui za pripremu okrepljujueg napitka na taj nain to se u sveem stanju, nakon to se
rasee i ukloni kotica, potopi u vodu da omeka, a zatim se izvadi i samelje ili narenda i ponovo
pomea sa vodom.
Prilikom pripreme slatkih jela oni uopte ne troe eer, a poznato je da je voe bogato sloenim
ugljenim hidratima, koji za razliku od rafinisanog belog eera, deluju blagotvorno na ljudski
organizam. Povre koje Hunze najradije upotrebljavju u ishrani: pasulj, graak, leblebije,
argarepe, patrnak, krompir, bundeva, zelena salata i spana.
Oraasti plodovi
Od oraastih plodova najvie troe orahe, a u manjoj meri lenike i bademe. Hunze od badema
prave ulje, po recepturi koja se prenosi sa kolena na koleno, koje koriste za kuvanje. Kao obroci
esto se javljaju kombinacije voa ili salata sa oraastim plodovima. Oraasti plodovi sadre
polinezasiene (linolinska i linoleinska) i mononezasiene (oleinska) masne kiseline koje su
zdrave i neophodne u ovekovoj ishrani, ali ih treba troiti umereno. Nasuprot njih nalaze se
zasiene masne kiseline, kojima obiluju namirnice ivotinjskog porekla, koje su nepotrebne i
esto tetne po ljudski organizam.

Namirnice ivotnjskog porekla

Mora se priznati da Hunze nisu strogi vegetarijanci. Meutim, upotreba namirnica ivotinjskog
porekla jako je tedljiva. Meso se gotovo iskljuivo jede za praznike, poput Kurban bajrama, i
nekih proslava, poput roenja ili venanja. U tim retkim prilikama kada se jede meso, ono se
slui u skromnim porcijama, iseeno na male komade i prethodno dugo kuvano u kljualoj vodi.
Budui da su veinom muslimani, Hunze slede religijsku zapovest da ne konzumiraju krv
sadranu u ivotinjskom mesu. Ova zapovest potie iz Biblije, a Bog ju je preko Mojsija dao i
jevrejskom narodu. Muslimani su ovu zapovest prihvatili, jer Mojsija (Musu) smatraju Bojim
prorokom. injenica je da ivotinjska krv i mast sadre tetne materije za ovekovo zdravlje:
ureinsku ili mokranu kiselinu, zasiene masne kiseline, holesterol, tetne bakterije i viruse, kao i
razne parazite.
Od mesa, Hunze najee konzumiraju piletinu, mada su sa uzgojem kokoaka kasno otpoeli,
zatim ovetinu, a najree govedinu. Kao govee meso, koristi se meso jaka. Razumljivo je da se
govee meso retko koristi jer u ovim planinskim predelima goveda predstavljaju pravo blago, kao
teglea marva.
Religijska zapovest Hunzama zabranjuje konzumiranje svinjetine. Brojne naune studije
pokazale su da svinjsko meso predstavlja jedno od najnekvalitetnijih i po ovekovo zdravlje
najopasnijih vrsta mesa. Veina Hunza konzumira meso samo za vreme religijskih praznika. Mali
deo Hunza konzumira meso jednom u toku nekoliko meseci ili jednom meseno, a najrei su oni
koji to ine jednom nedeljno. Upotreba jaja je veoma tedljiva. Jaja se najvie koriste prilikom
pripreme nekih varijanti apati hleba. Od mlenih proizvoda najee troe malo kozjeg mleka
i sira, a jako retko maslac. Takoe, Hunze pripremaju i mleni napitak slian jogurtu, sluei se
tradicionalnom recepturom. Poput upotrebe jaja, konzumiranje mlenih proizvoda je tedljivo.
Hunze koje ee konzumiraju namirnice ivotinjskog porekla to ine gotovo iskljuivo u toku
zimskih meseci, i dalje u srazmerno malim koliinama.
Hunze troe vrlo malo soli, a esto se spremaju jela u kojima ona uopte nije sadrana, izuzev
apati hleba. Takoe, poznati su po tome to temeljno vau hranu i ne jedu izmeu obroka.

Fizika aktivnost Hunza

Peaenje do organskih terasa-bati, odlazak u prirodu i poinak u sumrak
Na terasastom zemljitu planinskih padina, Hunze gaje voe, itarice i povre. Kreui se od kue
do plodnih terasa-bati Hunze esto moraju dugo da peae. Pored napornog fizikog rada, koji
iziskuju poljoprivredni radovi, Hunze pronalaze vreme da peae kroz himalajske krajolike,
osamljeni ili u grupama, i uivaju u njihovoj izuzetnoj lepoti. Stanovnik doline Hunza neretko
dnevno pree 15-20 km peice. Nauno je dokazana injenica da peaenje poseduje izuzetno
blagotvorno dejstvo na ovekov organizam, a istovremeno predstavlja najlaki i jedan od
najefikasnijih vidova telesne vebe.

Himalajski visovi Hunzama omoguavaju da udiu ist vazduh. Dolina Hunza nalazi se na
nadmorskoj visini od preko 2.500 metara. Ljudi koji ive na velikim nadmorskim visinama esto
poseduju vei broj crvenih krvnih zrnaca, koja su zaduena za razmenu gasova u naim pluima,
posebno za prenos kiseonika, koji je neophodan za normalan rad naih elija i kljuan za ivot
organizma u celini. Ne moramo se popeti na Himalaje da bismo udisali sve vazduh, ve moemo
sa porodicom ee odlaziti na izlet u prirodu, peaiti parkom ili hodati kraj reke, redovnije
poseivati rodbinu ili prijatelje koji ive na selu.
Obavezno moramo izai iz zatvorenog prostora i makar protegnuti noge. Dobro bi bilo da
postepeno produavavamo boravak na otvorenom prostoru, a blagotvorno bi bilo da dnevno
prepeaimo 10 km ili preemo jo veu razdaljinu.Obrada zemlje i uzgoj poloprivrednih kultura
na terasama-batama u celosti su organski. Hunze ne koriste nikakva vetaka ubriva ili
vetake pesticide. Oni se slue kompostom i ivotinjskim ubrivom. Kompostiraju se otpatci od
povra i voa, pepeo od drva koja slue za kuvanje i ogrev, drvenasti delovi biljaka i lie.
Zemlju navodnjavaju uz veto osmiljen sistem kanala i velikih kamenih ploa. Otopljeni sneg i
voda iz pritoka Inda, koja je alkalna i odlikuje se sveinom i istoom, sakupljaju se u kanalima.
Oni sa sobom nose mulj koji spiraju sa planinskih padina. Ovaj mulj sadri crnkast pesak koji je
bogat mineralnim materijama, a potie od stena koje voda lagano ispira. Dva puta godinje
uklanjaju se kamene ploe i voda zajedno sa muljem iz glavnih kanala plavi terase-bate. Sledi
obrada zemlje, zatim ubrenje kompostom i ivotinjskim ubrivom, a potom dolaze na red setva i
sadnja.

Useve su od korova i napasnika titili meavinom vode i pepela od raznog drvea i bilja. Mir je,
60-ih godina XX veka, na zahtev Pakistana, koji se plaio da e sever zemlje pogoditi razne bolesti
poljoprivrednih kultura i na taj nain izazvati glad i nemire, pokuao da primora Hunze da
upotrebe vetake pesticide ali u tome nije uspeo, iako je u kraljevini i dalje na snazi bila
aposolutna monarhija. Hunze su ipak ostale verne tradicionalnom nainu zatite svojih useva.
Derom Irving Rodejl, ameriki publicista, pionir pokreta za povratak organskom batovanstvu i
poljoprivredi i zagovornik prirodne medicine, smatrao je da je organski nain uzgoja ivotnih
namirnica u velikoj meri odgovoran za izuzetno zdravlje i dugovenost Hunza (G.I. Rodale, The
Healthy Hunzas, Rodale Press, Emmaus, Pennsylvania, 1948).
Radni dan Hunza
Radni dan za Hunze poinje u pet asova izjutra. Za vreme rada Hunze ee prave pauze da bi se
odmorili i duboko udahnuli vazduh. Za vreme ovih pauza ne zapoinju razgovor, ve posmatraju
bogatstvo prirode koja ih okruuje. Dobro je na kratko odmarati se od rada kojim smo
zaokupljeni, jer na taj nain pruamo naim miiima priliku da se opuste, ublaavamo psihiki
zamor do kojeg dovodi prenapregnuta panja, koju posveujemo trenutnoj aktivnosti. Jednom
reju, oslobaamo svoj organizam od stresa kojem je izloen. Ljudi koji ive u gradovima i esto
obavljaju poslove povezane sa sedelakim nainom ivota treba da prave ee pauze. Pri tom je
poeljno da se istegnu malo i naprave nekoliko brzih koraka, kao i da stalno imaju dotok sveeg
vazduha. Ako je mogue, treba da dre makar odkrinut prozor na radnom mestu.
Hunze leu rano
Sa prvim sumrakom Hunze se ve pripremaju za poinak. Medicina danas zna da na organizam
izmeu 9 i 11 asova uvee lui hemijsku supstancu koja izaziva pospanost, a nakon 11 asova
uvee on prestaje sa luenjem ove supstance i tada je teko zaspati ili je san esto nekvalitetan.
Takoe, nauno je dokazana injenica da se od 9 asova uvee pa sve do izlaska sunca u naem
telu lui melatonin, biohemijska supstanca neophodna za obnovu elija. Ljudi u tzv. razvijenim
drutvima ovu injenicu ozbiljno prenebregavaju. Na taj nain dovode svoj organizam u stanje
dugorone psihofizike iscrpljenosti koji neizbeno dovodi, ako ne odmah do teih bolesti, onda
bar do raznih zdravstvenih tegoba. Jo jedna odlika visokocivilizovanih naroda je preterana
zloupotreba vetakog osvetljenja koje organizam dri na neprirodan nain budnim i izmeu
ostalog doprinosi razvoju degenerativnih bolesti vida, kratkovidost, dalekovidost, oni pritisak.
Alen I. Benik, ameriki oftalmolog-optometriar, putovao je u dolinu Hunza sa namerom da
pregleda vid najstarije populacije ovog naroda. Svoj izvetaj sumira sledeom reenicom:
Ispitao sam vid najstarijih graana Hunze i utvrdio da se nalazi u odlinom stanju (A. E. Banik,
The Hunza Land, Whitehorn Publishing Co., Long Beach, California, 1960). Dobar deo Hunza,
ak ni danas, ne upotrebljava vetako osvetljenje.

Hunze i zdravstvene tegobe

Infektivne bolesti
Veina Hunza ni danas ne boluje od degenerativnih bolesti. Najee bolesti od kojih su nekada
oboljevali su infektivne prirode, izazvane tetnim mikroorganizmima, bakterije i virusi i
parazitima. Meu infektivnim bolestima posebno su bili zastupljeni malarija, oboljenja
uzrokovana stafilokokama, bakterije koje najee izazivaju bolesti disajnih organa i koe i
dizenterija. Treba napomenuti da su u pojedinim delovima doline Hunza nalaze bare, koje
predstavljaju plodno tle za razvoj malarinih komaraca.
Takoe, tano je i da stanovnici pojedinih sela nisu prali voe i povre, a verovatno ni druge
namirnice, pre konzumiranja i nisu mnogo marili za telesnu higijenu. Kao posledica ove
nehigijenske prakse najee su se javljali dizenterija i razne kone bolesti.Meutim, itelji ovih
sela su od strane drugih Hunza prekorevani zbog neistoe i neurednosti. Poto su muslimani, od
Hunza se zahteva, kao i od Jevreja, telesna istoa i istoa odee da bi mogli da pristupe
obaveznim dnevnim molitvama. Ove religijske zapovesti spasile su znaajan deo njih od
dizenterije i brojnih drugih infektivnih oboljenja. Naravno, ljudi pre manje od jednog i po veka
nisu znali nita o patogenim organizmima. U prolosti, nehigijenski uslovi ivota bili su vodei
uzrok smrti veeg dela oveanstva, u tom pogledu Hunze nisu predstavljale izuzetak.
Takoe, ni sua ni glad, koja bi za njom usledila, nisu bile strane Hunzama. U ovim periodima,
kao posledica neuhranjenosti uglavnom su zabeleeni sluajevi tuberkuloze i skorbuta (javlja se
usled nedostatka vitamina C koji je obilno prisutan u sveem vou i povru, a u zanemarljivim
koliinama u pojedinim vrstama mesa i mlenim proizvodima), a u manjoj meri i drugih
oboljenja.
Ukoliko osoba usvoji zdrav nain ivota to ne znai da vie nikada nee bolovati ili da je nee
zadesiti neka manja zdravstvena tegoba.
Prirodan nain ivota omoguava vam da se lake izborite sa boleu i doprinosi da bolest krae
traje, dok vas istovremeno titi od degenerativnih bolesti, koje su gotovo iskljuivo povezane sa
stilom ivota i od kojih naroito oboljevaju oni koji ive u tzv. razvijenim zemljama. Meu tim
bolestima su najrasprostranjenije: bolesti srca i krvnih sudova, visok krvni pritisak, infarkt, log.
U osnovi ovih bolesti nalazi se arteroskleroza koja predstavlja suavanje i zaepljivanje krvnih
sudova naslagama holesterola i zasienih masnih kiselina, kao i krvnim ugrucima koji nastaju
usled njihove visoke koncentracije u krvi.

Druge rasporostranjene bolesti razvijenog sveta su: rak, odlikuje se nekontrolisanim rastom
elija koje kradu hranljive materije od okolnog zdravog tkiva i na taj nain estoko iscrpljuju i
razaraju organizam, dijabetes, naroito eerna bolest tipa II ili adultni dijabetes, koja nastaje
usled visoke koncentracije holesterola u krvi koji spreava insulin da potpomogne glukozi da
prodre u elije naeg organizma, artritis, nastaje usled pojaane koncentracije ureinske ili
mokrane kiseline u krvi usled obilne konzumacije namirnica ivotinjskog porekla, pogotovu
mesa.

Alkohol
Mir Muhamed Damal Kan, vladar Hunza od 1945 do 1974. godine, verovatno je odgovoran za
tvrdnje da Hunze konzumiraju alkohol, ali i za neka druga uvreena miljena koja uglavnom ne
odgovaraju istini. Naime, Damal Kan je oftalmologa Alena Benika, koji je istraiovao zdravlje
Hunza, posluio vinom prijatnog i blagog ukusa, proizvedenog od groa. Nakon to je popio
dve aice. Benik je upitao Mira da li njegov narod pije pani, kako je vladar ovo pie nazvao, a
to u prevodu znai voda, u veim koliinama i dobio potvrdan odgovor.
Kan je ak tvrdio da za vreme praznika svaki stanovnik popije po jednu bocu ovog napitka, a da
on nema nikakvog opijajueg dejstva na njih. Istina je da Hunze piju napitak spremljen od
groa, ali u kojem nije dolo do procesa vrenja ili bar ne u znaajnoj meri, koje je slino

biblijskom tirou, svee isceenom groanom soku. Poznato je da je muslimanima strogo

zabranjena konzumacija alkohola. Sam mir Damal u razgovoru sa Benikom nije nikada
spomenuo alkohol, a koji su bili njegovi motivi da na ovakav nain obmane amerikog
oftalmologa ostaje nejasno. Mogue je da Kanov motiv lei u njegovoj potrebi da se prikae kao
osoba sklona modernizaciji. Tako je nastala legenda o hunza-pani, alkoholnom piu koje
navodno konzumiraju stanovnici ove doline.
Slobodnije ene
Mirova sklonost ka preterivanju ogledala se i u njegovoj tvrdnji da su ene Hunza slobodnije
nego u drugim muslimanskim zemljama i da on ne vlada apsolutistiki kraljevinom. Istina je
drugaija, ene Hunza odlikovale su se stidljivou i ednou, ime bi i dananje ene trebalo da
se odlikuju, i nisu bile odvojene od tradicionalnog poloaja koje su ene zauzimale u
muslimanskom drutvu. to se tie mirove vladavine, ona je bila apsolutistika. On je sa malim
brojem seoskih stareina, koji su inili durbar, savet i sud koji je pomagao vladaru u vrenju
njegovih dunosti, upravljao nad skoro svim aspektima ivota ovog himalajskog naroda. Tano je
da narod nije bio uvek spreman da ispuni sve prohteve svog vladara. Meutim, vredno je svake
pohvale da su i za vreme vladavine Damal Kana ubistvo, predbrani odnosi i homoseksualizam
bili strogo zabranjeni, najotrije su se kanjavali, i da nisu ni postojali meu Hunzama.
Bolesti i kratak vek lanova vladarske porodice
Mnogi postavljaju pitanje: kako to da je poslednji mir umro u 69 godini? Kraljevska porodica i
jedan deo seoskih stareina hvalili su se i ponosili dugovenou svog naroda, ali se nisu
pridravali njegovih zdravih navika. Zna se da su uvelikoj meri troili namirnice ivotinjskog
porekla i iveli preteno sedelakim nainom ivota. Kraljevska porodica je bila poznata po tome
to je u velikoj meri troila jaja, koja obiluju holesterolom, ak ih je za svoje potrebe uvozila, a
nije zaostajala ni za potronjom mesa. Ova scena se nije u velikoj meri razlikovala od ivota koje
je plemstvo vodilo u veem delu ostalog sveta.
Dugovenost i zdravlje
Bilo je kritika na raun dugovenosti i zdravlja Hunza. Najpoznatija je kritika Dona Klarka,
amerikog geologa, koji je proveo 20 meseci u kraljevstvu Hunza (J. Clark, Hunza Lost
Kingdom of the Himalayas, Funk and Wagnalls Company, New York, 1956). On govorio o
velikom broju Hunza koje je leio, o uzrocima njihovih bolesti i smrtnim ishodima, a posebno se
osvre na broj smrtnih sluajeva lanova porodice ili roaka 9 aka koje je poduavao u okviru
mirovog dvorca. Meutim, gotovo sve bolesti koje je leio su infektivne prirode ili su posledica
gladi.

Istraivai potvruju istinu o Hunzama

Robert MekKarison, kotski lekar i jedan od najuvenijih nutricionista i pionira pokreta za
povratak organskoj poljoprivredi, boravio je 7 godina na planinskom vencu Karakorum,
istraujui ivotne navike njegovih stanovnika, ukljuujui tu i Hunze (R. McCarrison, Faulty
Food in Relation to Gastro-Intestinal Disorders, Journal of the American Medical Association, 7.
January 1922. R. McCarrison, Nutrition and National Health, Faber and Faber, London, 1944).
On se upoznao ne samo sa mirovim tvrdnjama, ve je imao priliku da neposredno i detaljno
proui ivotne navike Hunza, a posebno njihovu ishranu. Mek Karison je 1926. godine sproveo
istraivanje na laboratorijskim mievima sa ciljem da uporedio dejstvo ishrane Hunza i drugih
naroda sa severa Britanske Indije, koja se temeljila uglavnom na biljnoj ishrani, sa dejstvom
zapadnjake ishrane, koja se temeljila na rafinisanim namirnicama i proizvodima ivotinjskog
porekla (R. McCarrison, A Good Diet and the Bad One, The British Medical Journal, 23.
October 1926).
Doao je do zakljuka da je preteno biljna ishrana daleko superiornija u pogledu hranljivih
materija u odnosu na ishranu koja obiluje preraenim namirnicama i namirnicama ivotinjskog
porekla, te je kao takva ne samo neophodna za ouvanje zdravlja ve i poseduje i blagotvorno
dejstvo u leenju bolesti koje su se u organizmu ve razvile. Eksperimentalno je dokazao da
ishrana bogata proteinima i mastima ubrzava nastanak bolesti, uglavnom bolesti degenerativne
prirode, i osnauje njihovo razorno dejstvo po organizam. Takoe, on je potvrdio istinitost glasina
o dugovenosti Hunza, koje ive i preko 100 godina, i o njihovom izuzetnom zdravlju, ak i u
starakoj dobi.
Iskustvo slino Mek Karisonovom imao je Dej F. Hofman, ameriki lekar, koji je, kao
predstavnik Nacionalnog gerijatrijskog drutva SAD, 60-ih godina XX veka boravio u ovom
himalajskom kraljevstvu i neposredno se uverio u prirodne i zdrave ivotne navike Hunza, koje

se nisu odnosile samo na ishranu ve i na njihovu poljoprivrednu praksu (J. F. Hoffman, Hunza
Secrets Of The Worlds Healthiest And Oldest Living People, New Win Publishing, 1996,
originalno izdanje objavljeno 1968).
Hunze opstaju uprkos blagodetima moderne civilizacije
Na alost, zdravlje Hunza se poslednjih godina pogorava jer su blagodeti savremene
civilizacije stigli i do njih: hrana u konzervama, slatkii od belog eera i brana i ostali rafinisani
industrijski proizvodi prezasieni raznim hemijskim dodacima (pojaivaima ukusa, vetakim
aromama i bojama, konzervansima, itd.). Primeeni su uestali sluajevi karijesa, degenerativne
bolesti organa za varenje, kao i druge bolesti vezane za nain ivota koje su im ranije bile
nepoznate. Vetako osvetljenje, radio i televizija su prisutni, ali nisu jo uvek iroko zastupljeni.
Oni skrauju boravak Hunza u prirodi, na sveem vazduhu i suncu, vezujui ih za zatvoreni
prostor, i izlau ih stresu, pogotovu savremeni mediji koji obiluju scenama nasilja i razvrata, kao i
brojnim drugim sadrajima koji podrivaju tradicionalne moralne vrednosti i agresivno promoviu
materijalizam. Istovremeno, oni naruavaju prirodnu naviku Hunza za zdravim snom. Meutim, i
pored svih pomenutih blagodeti, tradicionalni nain ivota je jo uvek jak i zahvaljujui njemu
Hunze su jo uvek jedan od najdugovenijih naroda na Zemlji.

HEALTH & LONGEVITY

Dr David Collison PhD

The Collison Newsletter

October 2006

If the Hunza People Could Live to 100+ Years

So Can We**
Introduction
In How To Live to 100+ Years, Free from Symptoms and Disease (see the homepage
of this website), brief reference is made to the Hunza people who
..... in their natural, primitive state, exhibited perfect mental and physical
health..They lived on fresh fruit and fresh vegetables, dried fruits, legumes,
wholegrain foods and goats cheese and butter. Meat was only eaten on ceremonial
occasions, this is, infrequently. Everything was organically grown in mineral rich
soils. In their way of life, there was no refined sugar, no pasteurisation of milk, no
hydrogenation of oils, no chemical fertiliser, no chlorination or fluoridation of water
and no inoculation. (page 21).
Such a brief summary deserves a more detailed presentation, and that is the purpose
of this article.

Background
Sir Robert McCarrison (who died in 1960) spent some seven years in the Hunza
Valley. Dr McCarrison was the resident surgeon and medical research worker for the
British Army in Gilgit from 1904-1911. Gilgit is 68 miles (109 km) from Baltit. He
was probably the first medically qualified Westerner to visit the Hunza Valley. In the
publication Studies in Deficiency Disease, he said My own experience provides an
example of a race unsurpassed in perfection of physique and freedom from diseases
in general among these people the span of life is extraordinarily long; and such
service as I was able to render them was confined chiefly to the treatment of
accidental lesions . or the treatment of maladies wholly unconnected with food
supply.
In 1961, an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association described
Hunza Land, a remote region in the Himalayan Mountains. The article reported that,
in this region, healthy people lived to be 120 or even 140 years of age.
As a result of this publication, Dr JAY M. HOFFMAN was sent to the Hunza valley,

under the auspices of the National Geriatrics Society, to conduct research to find the
secrets of the health and longevity of the Hunza people. Resulting from his extensive
research into their lifestyle and, of particular interest, their diet, Dr Hoffman wrote
his book HUNZA - Secrets of the worlds healthiest and oldest living people. This
book was originally published in 1968, and most recently revised in 1997 (Dr
J.M.Hoffman, Newwin Publishing Inc., Clinton, NJ, 1997).

A Digression
Today, in the 21st century, the benefits of a vegetarian diet are well known and
documented. It is of interest to look at the role that such a diet plays in the prevention
of disease and in achieving optimal health and longevity, and to compare todays
knowledge with the results of Dr Hoffmans research into the Hunza people some 40
years ago.
The arterial diseases (involving the heart-coronary heart disease, the braincerebrovascular disease, including stroke, peripheral vascular disease and
hypertension), cancer, and diabetes with its complications, are responsible for the
majority of deaths in Western Society. None of these were found in the Hunza people,
by either Sir Robert McCarrison or by Dr Jay Hoffman.
Following is a brief overview of some of the health benefits of a vegetarian diet in
relation to these major disease groups. This is not a complete and exhaustive list of
known benefits in these diseases. It is intended to give a focus on the positive health
outcomes when a dominantly vegetarian diet is consumed, as was done by the Hunza
people.

Arterial Disease.
Plant-based diets significantly reduce the intake of cholesterol and saturated
fat. There is NO cholesterol in plant/vegan foods. Both saturated fat and
cholesterol are two dietary factors strongly linked to the development of
arterial disease, including coronary artery disease.
The less we eat of them, the better it is for our heart.
A plant-based diet is also a rich source of soluble fibre. Soluble fibre is
effective in helping to lower blood cholesterol. It binds bile salts, which are
then excreted rather than reabsorbed (enterohepatic circulation). Extra bile
salts have to be produced by the liver to replace those lost and these are made
from cholesterol.
Fruit and vegetables are a major source of folic acid.
This vitamin (B9) helps reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering levels of

the harmful amino acid homocysteine.

Vegetarian diets are low in iron, compared to the high levels found in animal
based diets, especially red meat.
Excess iron promotes cell-destroying free radical activity. Free radicals
promote aging. They also oxidize LDL (bad) cholesterol, making it even
more harmful to arteries, promoting arteriosclerosis.
Fruits and vegetables are rich in phytochemicals (plant chemicals), which
are anti-aging antioxidants or scavengers of harmful free radicals, which
protect against arterial disease.
A diet rich in fruit and vegetables is beneficial in reducing the risk of stroke.

Cancer.
There is strong scientific evidence that a diet rich in fruit and vegetables
protects against many forms of cancer. These include cancers of the lung,
colon, stomach, mouth, larynx, oesophagus, bladder and prostate.
The protective compounds in fruit and vegetables include carotenoids (eg in
carrots there are some 200 of these, of which bcaroteine is but one: the full
health benefit is the combination as found in the whole food), vitamins C and
E, selenium, indoles, isothiocyanates, flavinoids, phenols and others.
Plant foods, being rich in fibre, help prevent colon cancer, as well as
constipation, and its complications like diverticulosis and haemorrhoids.
There is NO fibre in animal products. Studies show that men who are heavy
red meat eaters have a significantly increased risk of getting colon and
prostate cancers.

Diabetes.
Adult onset (Type 2) diabetes is often well controlled on a vegetarian diet,
especially if combined with weight loss. (Most adult-onset diabetics tend to
be overweight or obese the Body Mass Index should be less than 25.)

These are but some of the major diseases and conditions that can be prevented, or
even reversed, by eating a vegetarian diet. None of these diseases were found in the
Hunza people.
As we will see, a vegetarian diet is only one of many factors that has contributed to
the health and longevity of the Hunzas. However, the Hunza diet is probably the most

significant healthy lifestyle factor.

Much of the following information on the Hunza people in the early 1960s is
extracted from Dr J.M.Hoffmans book referred to above, namely HUNZA - Secrets
of the worlds healthiest and oldest living people.

The Isolation of the Hunza People

The early chapters of Dr Jay Hoffmans book set out the difficulties and challenges
that he, and his wife Trudie, experienced in gaining entry to, and visiting, the Hunza
valley. Although they are not relevant to this article, they do however make
fascinating reading. It required a 10-hour hazardous walk to enter the Valley. He
referred to this track as the worlds most dangerous road.
For centuries, the Hunza Valley was almost cut off from the rest of the world, almost
inaccessible. Even today, although there is a modern road not in existence in 1961, it
can still be quite a challenge to get there, the road conditions ranging from bad in the
dry season to non-existent in the wet season.
However with a road, compared to only a foot-trail before which necessitated
everything having to be carried, many unhealthy foods and beverages can now be
more easily imported into the Hunza valley. The result is that the Hunza people are
slowly becoming Westernised.
This inevitable change in diet and lifestyle will mean that diseases, once unknown,
will become commonplace. Studies, worldwide, show that when populations who eat
healthy plant-based diets become Westernised, and convert to unhealthy animalbased or flesh-based diets (high acid diets compared to the alkaline plant-based food
diets), the populations also adopt the diseases and illnesses of the Western world, ie
the degenerative diseases such as arterial diseases (heart disease/stroke), cancer,
diabetes, arthritis etc.

Where is the Hunza Valley?

The Hunza valley is in the western Himalayas. China lies to the north-east,
Afghanistan to the north-west and Pakistan to the south. It is approximately 8,000
feet (2,440m) above sea level. The population of the Hunza people in 1961 was in the
region of 30,000.
The Hunza valley is surrounded by mountain peaks ranging from 12,000 feet
(3,658m) to 25,550 feet (7,787m) (Mt Raka Poshi). All these mountains produce
glaciers up to 40 miles (64km) in length (Batura Galcier). The Hunza River is fed by
many of these glaciers. Many of the terraced farms go up the mountainsides to as

much as 12,000 feet (3,658m).

The capital of Hunza, previously named Baltit, is today called Karimabad. In the
hottest months of the year, one can see six snow-capped mountains, all of which have
glaciers.
Mt Ultar is 24,044 feet (7,329m) high. It is from the glaciers of this mountain that the
farmers around Baltit (Karimabad), Altit and other villages of the Hunza valley, get
their water supply for both drinking and irrigation.
Glaciers grind rock, as they move across it, to colloidal minerals. Hence these
glaciers supply mineral rich water for the irrigation of the extensive terraces in Hunza
Land. There is no rain in the summer months, so the people of Hunza depend
exclusively on irrigation, for their terraced farms, from this mineral-rich glacial
water. The water leaves a rich sediment of minerals, replaced year by year, for
luxuriant plant growth.

What is the Hunza Valley Like?

The Hunza valley has been described as the Shangri-La of the Himalayas.
One description of the (present day) Hunza valley is .. visitors to Hunza are
overwhelmed by the rugged charm, the fragrant breeze singing through the graceful
trees, and the velvet-green carpet of wheat fields set against the background of snowcovered mountains
It is said to be one to be the most beautiful regions in Pakistan. The snows of
Rakaposhi glitter in the moonlight, producing an atmosphere of ethereal magnetism.
In his book, Dr Hoffman also tells us that it is
a land where people do not have our common diseases, such as heart ailments,
cancer, arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes, tuberculosis, hay fever, asthma, liver
trouble, gall bladder trouble, constipation or many other ailments that plague the rest
of the world.
Moreover, there are no hospitals, no insane asylums, no drug stores, no tobacco
stores, no police, no jails, no crimes, no murders and no beggars.
Furthermore, there are no insects to destroy the crops or fruit trees, therefore no need
for poisonous sprays.

An Agricultural Nation
The only occupation that existed in the Hunza was farming. It was strictly an

agricultural nation. This is probably one of the prime contributing factors in the
longevity of the Hunza people.
The land was distributed almost evenly amongst the people, so that each family had
about the same amount. The terraced fields ranged from half an acre to five acres in
area.
There were three main produce:
1. Fruits. These included apricots, peaches, pears, apples, plums, grapes,
cherries, mulberries and figs. Many of these were sun-dried on the roofs of
the houses.
2. Vegetables. These included potatoes, tomatoes, all types of beans, lettuce,
cucumbers, many types of melons and almost all types of vegetables grown in
the West.
3. Grains. The main one was wheat. Other grains grown were rye, oats, barley,
corn, millet and buckwheat. No rice was grown, as there are no lowlands.
The people did not cook very often, mainly because firewood was scarce. Whenever
possible, foods were eaten raw.

Organic Farming
In the Hunza valley, chemical fertilisers were not used. All the soil is enriched by the
mineralised glacial water. In addition to the enrichment of the soil by glacial water,
the Hunza people improved the earth with natural compost or manure. The farmers
put back into the soil, in the form of compost, what they took out of it in crops.
Analysis of the soil, using samples of the black topsoil of the Hunza, was carried out
and the soil was shown to be very rich in all minerals, as were samples of the glacial
water.
Vegetation grown in rich mineralised soil brings forth rich mineralised food. Due to
the use of natural fertilisers and rich mineralised water, the crops grew in profusion.
No chemical sprays of any form were used. No insects attacked the vegetation or fruit
trees. One reason for this was the high altitude of the country. Another was probably
the richness of the soil, which produced pest-resistant growth. This was true organic
farming.
It is undoubtedly one of the factors that contributed to the health and longevity of the
Hunza people.

The Hunzas a Happy Relaxed People

Dr Hoffman believed that another contributing factor to the health and longevity of
the Hunza people was their relaxation and lack of stress.
He described the peaceful part of the world in which they lived. The Hunza people, in
1961, knew very little, if anything, about the stresses and troubles that exist in the
outside world beyond their isolated valley.
They were unaffected by the worries, restlessness, confusion, stress and strife of the
outside world. They were happy because:

They were truly alive

They did not have worries

They had wonderful terraced farms

They always had abundant water to irrigate

Their crops where always bountiful.

There was abundant harvest to be stored for winter

They were healthy

There were no crimes, no police and no jails.

What About the Climate? Pure Air, Pure Water and Sunshine
Another reason for the longevity of the Hunza people, Dr Hoffman said, was the
marvellous climate and clean air they had in their wonderful Utopian Valley. There
was no air pollution. The atmosphere was ever pure and clean. Dr Hoffman pointed
out that they were habitual deep-breathers and physically active people.
They drank copious amounts of water. (Water intake is always high at altitude.)
Dr Hoffman also noted that the Hunza people were exposed to plenty of sunshine.
He says They drink lots of water and are natural deep breathers. So these three
things sunshine, (pure) water and pure air - are undoubtedly important aids in their
seeming boundless vitality.

The Importance of Exercise

The physical activity of the Hunza people was clearly outlined by Dr Hoffman, and
also noted by Dr McCarrison. They were farmers and they had to climb up and down
the terraces all day long in order to care for their land. They also carried, to and from

the fields, and up and down the terraced mountains, all the equipment they needed to
use in planting and harvesting, as well as the final harvest.
It is well known and widely accepted that a physically active life-style is a significant
factor in health and longevity. The health and longevity of the Hunza people was
linked to their physically active life-style.

Adequate Rest and Sleep

Adequate rest and sleep are further factors identified by Dr Hoffman to explain the
Hunzas robust health and longevity.
In 1961, there was no gas or electricity for lights. The extremely hazardous route into
the valley made the importation of kerosene for artificial lighting far too expensive.
What little oil they had was extracted from the kernel of the apricot and was reserved
for cooking or for medicinal purposes. It was never used for lighting. The people
went to bed when it got dark, and they rose in the morning at daybreak.
What a contrast to our way of life! The importance of sleep in health cannot be over
emphasised. It is during the restful hours of sleep that the body rebuilds its tissues
and alkalinises itself (acid being excreted via the kidneys).
Another observation by Dr Hoffman was that, among the Hunza people, no-one ate
before going to bed at night. And none of the people, including children, ate between
meals.

The Hunzas Drinking Habits

The drinking habits of the people of Hunza were, Dr Hoffman claims, undoubtedly
another health-inducing factor in their lives.
They did not drink any strong alcoholic beverages such as spirits. They did make a
little wine, but this was used mainly for medicinal purposes.
They consumed large amounts of water, just as it comes from the glaciers - a grey
mother-of-pearl-coloured water, due to the colloidal minerals suspended in it. The
author well recalls this appearance of the water, in the high Himalayas during his first
trek in Nepal, when he expected sparkling crystal clear water! The Hunza people had
this glacial water available wherever they were, because every field, every terrace
had an irrigation stream. They drank lots of water because they believed their water
was very rich in minerals (as it was), and that the more they drunk, the more minerals
they would put in their system, and the healthier they would be. Their water was pure
in the sense that there were no pesticide/herbicide residues or other pollutants such as
chlorine/fluoride.

They did not drink colas, sodas and other beverages. These bulky, heavy, commercial
drinks were not carried into the valley. Hence they did not have sugary, chemicalised
drinks. Water was their staple.

Good Nutrition
This perhaps should be at the top of the list of reasons for the incredible health of the
Hunza people. There is no doubt that the nutritious food consumed by the Hunza
people was a very important contributing factor to their health and longevity. Let us
look closely at what Dr Hoffman observed in his research, during his visit to the
Hunza valley in 1961.
All agriculture was organic, and grown in mineral rich soil, with natural composting
and free of all chemicals.
Minerals and trace elements in soil are inorganic. We cannot eat the earth and live:
our bodies can only assimilate minerals and trace elements in the organic form. As
vegetation grows in the soil, it absorbs inorganic minerals and transforms these into
organic minerals. Thus, as the plants and their fruits are eaten, the organic minerals
needed for the body are ingested and assimilated.
Every tissue and every cell of our bodies is built, or made, from the food we eat. If
we eat good, nutritious food (organically grown, full of organic minerals and trace
elements), we are going to have healthy bodies. There is a constant breakdown of the
tissues of the body and replacement by new cells. These new cells are made from the
breakdown products of the old cells, after the waste or toxic material is removed and
excreted, and supplemented from food. If we eat food that is demineralised (as the
result of mineral depleted soil, non-rotated crops, non-organic farming) devitalised
and dead, it is only natural that we will have sick bodies. All cooked food is dead, as
are all the processed and refined foods.
Dr Hoffman writes:
the people of Hunza land live without the ailments of cancer, heart trouble,
arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure, arthritis, diabetes, tuberculosis, mental illness
and many other ailments that plague the civilised world. Of what do the die? They die
of old age.
The Hunza people ate whole foods. Foods that have been processed and refined are
not whole. Their foods were also free from additives, such as colourings and
preservatives.
Another way of saying this is that they did not eat empty calories. An empty calorie is
a food that does not contain all of the necessary nutrients as would be found in the
food as grown. It lacks vitamins and minerals; it is a food that has been tampered

with by man, processed, refined and adulterated by added chemicals. White flour,
white rice and white sugar are perfect examples of empty calorie foods. They are
demineralised and devitalised. They are not fit to be called food. Refined white flour
lacks bulk-producing bran, and lacks about three quarters of the mineral content of
the organic wheat grain. In refined white flour, most of the vitamin content has been
removed and lost, as well as some of the protein and fat components, and the
remaining protein is of inferior grade.
In stark contrast, stone-ground whole grain is full of minerals and is a healthy food.
The Hunza people also consumed a low-fat diet. The only oil they had available came
from the apricot kernel, and was used mainly for medicinal purpose. For example,
when a person was cut, the wound was washed with wine (alcohol being antiseptic),
then saturated with apricot oil and bandaged.
Fat in the Hunza diet, almost exclusively from vegetarian sources, comprised only
10% of the diet. This fat was the natural oils in the food. It was healthy. It was not
free fat. When the oil is taken out of the cell and extracted from the plant or fruit or
seed and refined, it is free fat, which is unhealthy.

The Hunza Diet and Regularity

Dr Hoffman recognised that another reason for the good health among the Hunza
people was that they were not constipated.
The norm for them was to have a bowel action three times a day, essentially after
each meal. This is called the gastro-colic reflex: food enters the stomach and
reflexively makes the colon contract and empty. This prevents auto-intoxication, that
is, the reabsorption of toxic waste, like a stagnating sewer. The bowel, if not emptied
regularly, becomes a reservoir of putrefying food residues.
The Hunza people did not sit on seats or commodes to have their bowels open, they
squatted. This position is physiologically correct: the sigmoid (s-shaped) colon
straightens and this facilitates evacuation, minimising the need to strain. This
squatting position appears to be universal among all people with the exception of
those who call themselves civilized, ie the Western world.
The high fibre diet of the Hunza people in the 1960s was an integral part of
preventing constipation and its complications.

What, then, was the Basis of the Hunza Diet?

They subsisted mainly on vegetarian food.
There was insufficient land to graze a large number of cattle. What land was available

was needed for agriculture. Thus the basic foods of the Hunza people were fruits,
vegetables and grains (excluding rice).
If they were to divert the use of some of the land from raising produce to pasture land
for animals, there would not be enough food for the needs of the people. Dr Hoffman
saw that the few animals they had usually grazed on the rocky soil, or on grasses
along the pathways. He estimated that the Hunza people were about ninety-nine
percent vegetarian.
As previously mentioned, their food was organically grown and mainly eaten,
whenever possible, raw.
Dr Hoffman noted that the babies were all breast-fed: a boy child for three years and
a girl child for two years. The importance of breast-feeding is well known today.
Comments:

All food comes from the vegetable kingdom. Plants are food producers;
animals are food users. Flesh foods are secondary or second-hand products,
since all food comes originally from the vegetable kingdom.
There is nothing necessary or desirable for human nutrition that is found in
animal foods which is not in, and derived from, vegetable products.

As we well know today, all animal products are acid-forming in the body. The
ideal diet aims to have 75%-80% of foods alkali-forming, and the only way to
achieve this is on a dominantly egetarian diet. (refer to my September 2005
newsletter, Acid Alkali Balance the Ideal Diet)

In the animal world, herbivorous or vegetarian animals are long-living:

statistics show that carnivorous (flesh-eating) animals only live about onethird as long as herbivorous animals. The herbivorous animals, for example
elephants, horses, camels and oxen, have a tremendous capacity for hard and
prolonged work, much more so than carnivorous animals.

Endurance studies carried out, for example at Yale University, showed

vegetarians, or near vegetarians, had much greater endurance in muscular
activities that meat eaters.

What of Spices, Condiments and Caffeine?

Spices, pepper, ginger, mustard, cinnamon, cloves, salt, vinegar and caffeinecontaining foods and beverages were NOT used by the Hunza people when Dr
Hoffman carried out his survey in 1961. He believed that the non-use of these
substances was another reason for the health of the Hunza people, and the absence of
the degenerative diseases that plagued the western/civilized world in 1961.

Comments:

Pepper, ginger, spice, mustard, cinnamon, cloves etc are all strong irritants.
It is suggested that any seasoning substance which can be eaten as is, in the
concentrated form, without irritation, is a safe seasoning substance to use, eg
parsley. The opposite is also suggested, namely that any seasoning /agent/
substance which, when taken in concentrated form, causes irritation, should
either not be used, or, at most, used sparingly.

Salt is another item for seasoning. The natural salt (sodium) in foods is
sufficient for the bodies needs. Salt should not be added to food at any stage
of preparation or consumption.

Vinegar (acetic acid) is highly acidic and reduces the alkali reserves of the
body. Apple cider vinegar is the exception, as it is slightly alkaline in the
body.

The adverse effects of caffeine-containing foods and beverages (coffee, tea,

cola drinks, chocolate) are well known. Caffeine is a drug and a central
nervous system stimulant. A standard cup of tea contains about half the
amount of caffeine as a standard coffee.

The Seven Requirements for Health

The Seven Requirements for Health, as set out in Chapter 2 of How To Stop Feeling
So Awful (see the homepage of this website) are:
1. Proper nutrition
2. Pure Air
3. Pure water
4. Exercise
5. Sunshine
6. Rest
7. Positive Thinking
In reviewing the findings of Dr Hoffman, when he researched the Hunza people in
1961, it is clearly apparent that the lifestyle of the Hunza people fulfilled all the
Seven Requirements for Health. Their health and longevity was the result of proper
nutrition, pure air, pure water, exercise, sunshine, rest and positive thinking.
E.G.White reminds us that: Disease never comes without a cause. The way is

prepared, and disease invited, by disregard of the Laws of Health.

We, too, can look forward to health and longevity if we take the example of the
Hunza people and follow the Seven Requirements for Health. These can be
summarised as:
1. A plant-based diet, which emphasis fresh, raw fruits and vegetables
2. An environment which includes pure air, pure water, healthy working
conditions and aesthetic beauty
3. Appropriate activity including balanced exercise, rest, work and play
4. A sound psychology based on self-responsibility, self-acceptance, selfawareness and self-mastery
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE SICK

** Copyright 2006: The Huntly Centre.