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.