Abstract
This article presents the historical and geopolitical context of the development of diabetes among Native people and the impact of dietary changes on Native American food culture. In the traditional Native American diet, farming and food were interwoven into a balanced lifestyle for maintaining life, celebrating and honoring culture, and fostering relationships in families and communities. Current trends focusing on families and communities, and strengthening and valuing tribal cultures may offer a blueprint for improving the health of Native people.
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Beverly Patchell and Karethy Edwards declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.
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Patchell, B., Edwards, K. The Role of Traditional Foods in Diabetes Prevention and Management among Native Americans. Curr Nutr Rep 3, 340–344 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-014-0102-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-014-0102-6
Keywords
- Native Americans
- American Indians
- Alaska Natives
- Traditional foods
- Diabetes prevention
- Dietary changes
- Traditional culture
- Displacement
- Prevalence rates
- Indian country
- Trends in diabetes
- Diabetes development
- Native spirituality
- Balance
- Harmony
- Culturally-appropriate
- Native American traditional diet
- Organic food
- Farming
- Interconnectedness
- Indigenous people
- Innovation
- Storytelling
- Video production