Chapter 14 Assignment

Food and Culture  

Chapter 14: South Central Asians 

Kittler Sucher and Nelms Textbook 

(Worth 20 Points)    

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Assignment:  

Complete the following questions in sentences and paragraphs. We suggest to copy the table into your word processing document and then submit.

  

 1. How much remains of the old caste system in India today? (p. 432)

The general delineations of the hereditary caste system, separating (in

descending order of status) the Brahmans from the Kshatriyas and the Vasiyas

from the Sudras, are still recognized in modern-day India. Though the categories

may not be as rigid, the “untouchables,” excluded from the old caste system

altogether, are still at the very bottom of society.

 

2.    Describe the major variations in how vegetarianism is practiced in India today. (p. 437)

The Buddhist concept of ahimsa, a general respect for life, is commonly upheld in

India. As a result, vegetarianism is widely practiced by modern Asian-Indians, though

the definition of vegetarianism varies across the country. All Indian vegetarians avoid

meat, but some do eat fish because it is inexpensive in some places. Most vegetarians

in the country avoid eggs, but dairy is commonly used in most Indian cooking.

 

3.     What are the major differences between the eating habits of the Indians vs. the neighboring Pakistanis? (p. 435 - 437)

The cuisine of India generally uses less meat than that of neighboring Pakistan.

Most Indian dishes focus on legumes instead of animals for protein. The opposite

is true in Pakistan. In addition, Pakistani food generally incorporates more garlic,

ginger, and onions than Indian food. Other than these differences, Pakistani and

Indian cuisines are similar.

 

4.     Define: masala (p. 439), curry (p. 437 side bar) and tandoor (p. 440)

The term masala refers to a category of Indian spice mixtures used to flavor

various dishes.

Curry is an English term referring to a common masala that is a blend of the

following spices: coriander, cumin, fenugreek, turmeric, black pepper, cayenne

pepper, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, and chili peppers.

A tandoor is a cylindrical clay oven of Indian origin. A tandoor is often used to

slow-cook lamb- and chicken-centric dishes.

5. Comment on Metabolic Syndrome, as described on p. 450.

Metabolic syndrome is a controversial subject in the world of professional

health care. Originally dubbed “syndrome x” by a diabetes researcher in 1988,

metabolic syndrome refers to the coincidence of insulin resistance, high

triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and hypertension

in an overweight, sedentary individual. Prevalence of these symptoms is high

among certain ethnic groups in America. Studies have shown that metabolic

syndrome increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease by 200% and

increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 500%.

The World Health Organization recognized the disease in the late 1990s, but in

2005, many newspaper headlines echoed some concerns of health professionals

that metabolic syndrome was not a legitimate diagnosis. The disparity in opinion

arises from the fact that there is no consensus on which symptoms, and in which

combinations, should warrant the metabolic syndrome diagnosis. Many health

professionals also disagree on what the set of symptoms should be called. Further

studies are necessary to determine if metabolic syndrome is a significant

diagnosis that will benefit the wellbeing of patients.