Three Sisters

[lambertiana]

The three sisters would make a good foundation nutritionally, but are lacking in two basic areas: fat, and vitamin C. They have most of the other nutrients fairly well covered. So add some fatty fish or game (easier said than done, wild game is frequently pretty lean). Nuts would be a valuable addition to this diet. The native americans who used the three sisters had access to fish, game, and nuts (black walnuts, pecans, hickory, pinyon, etc, depending on location) to make that happen. And we can't discount the use of squash seeds as food. They would be a good source of fats.

The consumption of the bones when eating fish would really help boost calcium levels, too. Vitamin C is found in sufficient quantities only in fruits and vegetables, and there were a number of seasonal sources in North America. I wonder if scurvy was common during winter.

 

[The Government]

"Beans and corn create a perfect protein profile" -food science teacher.

 

[bradefolums]

Vitamin C is found in sufficient quantities only in fruits and vegetables, and there were a number of seasonal sources in North America. I wonder if scurvy was common during winter.

I would guess about as common as starvation
Craisins Raisins Prunes + meat + fat == Pemmican

 

[Toucan Oasis]

I also grow the corn with beans climbing and squash below.
We grow our squash man sized down here.
" ayote". That's beside an 80 lb American Bulldog.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30121645@N08/3955929276/

 

[bruce]

You have to watch for protein poisoning and vitamin deficiencies. That said, so many civilizations have survived, or even thrived, on things like corn, rice and potatoes, it makes you wonder how our diets have become so complex today.

Can you define "protein poisoning", perhaps in terms of amino acid profiles?

 

[Old CW4]

Re the 'beans/corn' thing. I don't know but I've read that enzymes in corn enable our bodies to utilize the proteins in the beans, thus creating a beneficial food combo. Another nearly perfect food combo is potatos and eggs---fried potatos with an egg or two broken on them and mixed in. One of the famous Nordic polar explorers of the early 1900s subsisted on that combo almost exclusively during his arctic trips and stayed healthy. I guess it must work, I'm 75 and eat beans/corn and eggs/potatos a lot. I haven't seen a doctor since 81 when I retired from the Army---28 years ago.

 

[bruce]

Can you define "protein poisoning", perhaps in terms of amino acid profiles?

Never mind - found it for myself.

Protein Poisoning: The effects of a diet consisting of only very lean meat (like rabbit) where there is not enough lipid material (fat) to provide the fatty acids that the body cannot synthesize from other materieals. Also, a diet of lean protein that produces energy through the less effecient process called "gluconeogenesis" which also causes a build up of urea in the blood (toxic).

Even a small amount of fat and carbohydrate would prevent this. I doubt anyone since the mountain men have had trouble with this, unless the diet was self imposed through mental defect.

 

[ttoney83]

I have heard that Native Americans sustained themselves by growing beans, corn, and squash. Additionally, the 3 items, used as staples, had all the necessary nutrients people need. I am sure native peoples supplemented their diet with meat and other vitamin rich food stuffs. But, could the 3 Sisters be enough? Given that, I was wondering if anyone here could verify this. Or perhaps enlighten me as to what one should grow or harvest for long term survival situation.

Sorry if this has been discussed before.

There is no single vegetable which provides all the essential amino acids the human body requires. However, combinations like beans and rice do. So, Beans with a starch, like Corn, combined with Squash apparantly, from what I've heard, DOEs provide a balanced diet. Supplemented with Meat and various other seasonal berries and such I see no reason why one could not live a very healthy life with just these three Veggies in their garden.

 

[Old CW4]

From what I've read, about the only nearly perfect plant food nutrition wise is avocados and you have to be in a semi tropical area to raise them. In most areas of the US, I guess the best picks would be beans, peas, potatos, squash, tomatos, etc. The usual garden stuff grandma/grandpa grew and consumed.