Abstract
The hilltribes living in northern Thailand, 159 Lahu Nyi (Lahu), 152 Lo Mi Akha (Akha) and 42 Mlabri tribes, were asked to answer questions about their frequency of food intake and consciousness of daily life and their health from December 2006 to January 2007 in order to examine the differences in their eating habits among the tribes.
The frequency which subjects answered “everyday” to the intake of rice, vegetables, red pepper, herbs, salt or “umami” seasoning was high among the food groups for all the tribes. The frequencies of the intake of pork/chicken and eggs in the case of males and those for eggs and milk in the case of females significantly differed among the tribes. The frequencies of drinking milk by teenagers and eating confectionery by teenage girls were higher than those of the other generations. Wild animals were eaten by all the tribes, but the frequency of their intake was low.
Most of the subjects who drink little milk recognized that they had not only unsuitable eating habits regarding their health, but also felt tired. The relationship between the frequency of the intake of eggs or milk and “consciousness of living healthy” was observed by the Akha tribe. The physical condition was related to the frequency of the intake of potatoes in the Lahu tribe. There was the same tendency about the frequency of the intake of rice by the Akha tribe.
This study showed that the frequencies of food intake differed between the tribes, generations and sex. Milk and confectionery were food items that the tribes had changed their eating habits. It also suggested that the intake of milk affects the consciousness of health and physical condition of the subjects.
