Research
Macro partitioning
Maintaining traditional ethnic diets can offer protective nutritional benefits (e.g., higher fruit/vegetable intake, plant-based proteins) but may also introduce risks (e.g., high sodium, saturated fats) if traditional foods are substituted with processed versions available in the host country.
Don't assume all traditional foods are healthy. Check the sodium and fat content of your ethnic staples. If you can't find authentic ingredients, try to recreate dishes from scratch using whole foods rather than relying on processed ethnic products which may be high in sodium and fat.
GoodQualifiesMEDIUM confidence
Punjabi women residing in West Toronto maintain a traditional diet that is generally considered to be healthier (plant-based, high in protein and complex carbohydrates) compared to a typical Western diet... continuance of traditional eating habits and consumption of special ethnic foods can increase the risk of poor nutrition, particularly sodium intake, which was found to be as high as 238–474 % of the daily recommended intake for some individuals.
Why this rating
Supported by multiple studies cited in the review showing both benefits and risks of traditional diets.
Source
Acculturation and Nutritional Health of Immigrants in Canada: A Scoping Review
Dia Sanou et al. · Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health · 2013
narrative_reviewCited 243×
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