Kitava
Kitava (or Kitava Island) is an island that is part of the Trobriand Islands (officially Kiriwini Islands) of New Guinea. It has a population of approximately 2,300 people.
Contents |
[edit] People
The people of Kitava (Kitavans, Kitavan people), like those of surrounding islands, mostly farm enough food to feed their own families. Matrilineal clans control land and resources. Their traditional beliefs are still strongly held, despite modern influence. They speak various dialects of Kilivila. They use yams and shells called kula for trade and currency. The Trobriband Islands were first visited by Europeans in 1793.
[edit] Health
The Kitavan people have been recently under greater study for their remarkable health characteristics. The people show no indication of coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, dementia, congestive heart failure, acne, low or high blood pressure, or obesity.[1] There is also almost no indication of cancer.[2]
Kitavans have particularly low diastolic blood pressure and low BMI.[3] They also exhibit significantly lower serum insulin levels, even in old age, compared to Westernized populations.
Over 75% of Kitavans smoke cigarettes, but remarkably show no indication of lung cancer.
Life expectancy for those who reach the age of 50 is an additional 25 years; particularly significant considering their lack of modern medicine. However, child mortality from infections such as malaria is particularly high.
[edit] Diet
 Yams |
 Sweet potatoes |
 Taro |
 Coconut |
The primary food sources consist of root vegetables such as yam, sweet potato, and taro, as well as tropical fruits, fish, and coconuts.[1] Less than 0.2% of their nutrition comes from "Western food" such as edible fats, dairy, sugar, cereals, or alcohol.[1]
They eat an average of 2,200 calories/day which consists of 69% from carbohydrates, 21% from fat, 17% from saturated fat (primarily coconuts), and 10% from protein. They have about a 1:2 omega-6 to omega-3 ratio.[2] The Kitavans have abundant food supply and are not threatened by malnutrition or famine.
The diet of the Kitava people have influenced new diets such as the Paleolithic diet.
[edit] Lifestyle
[edit] References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Guyenet S. http://www.staffanlindeberg.com/TheKitavaStudy.html Retrieved 2011 Oct 6
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2008/08/kitavans-wisdom-from-pacific-islands.html Retrieved 2011 Oct 6
- ↑ Lindeberg, S. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10535381 "Low serum insulin in traditional Pacific Islanders--the Kitava Study" Retrieved 2011 Oct 6
Leave a comment
Please leave your comments for this article on ''Kitava''. We are also looking for volunteers! Read all comments here.
