Is there a typical Chinese diet and what are the health implications?

The results of a dietary survey performed on adults in the Hong Kong Chines e population in 1995 is examined in the light of published surveys for the Chinese populations in another region of Southern China, in Australia, and in an earlier Hong Kong Chinese population in 1987. The comparisons were ma de to document the extent of variability in the diets of the Chinese popula tion and the implications for health. Among the Hong Kong Chinese populatio n, there is an increase in the percentage energy from protein for men and w omen, and increase in percentage energy from fat and decreases in the perce ntage energy from carbohydrates for women between 1987 to 1995. Marked vari ations in dietary patterns exist in different geographical regions, probabl y as a result of differences in income, educational level, as well as cultu ral differences. Although the Chinese diet is considered to be beneficial i n relation to coronary heart disease, the relatively high sodium and low ca lcium intake may predispose to other diseases such as stroke or osteoporosi s.