Basil Thomson, a 19th-century ethnologist, said:

Yaqona drinking was an ancient custom when the first Europeans arrived, and its use today is still an accurate reflection of their observations. It is also presented as a sevusevu, a traditional gift offered by guests to the host, or as a token of respect to visitors of higher rank Kavain official ceremonies. It is consumed ritually when welcoming visitors, sending village members on journeys, christening boats, laying the foundations of homes, casting magical spells, making deals, settling arguments and, as is usually the case, chatting. Fijians would scarcely be Fijians without their national beverage. Yaqona is a Fijian link to the past, a tradition so inextricably woven into the fabric of culture that life without it is unimaginable. It is no accident that in Fiji many business deals and social contracts are consummated around a yaqona bowl. The visitor feels a warmth and acceptance among complete strangers that is normally associated with family or close friends. Most importantly, the act of sharing a bowl creates an invisible bond between the participants. Sitting around a bowl in the village, exchanging talanoa (conversation, chat) and listening to the guitars hammer away is a very pleasant experience. The most important aspect of yaqona drinking is psychological.

Explorers, Traders and the first philolgists.

Captain Cook collects vocabulary in Fiji.

Explorers and Missionaries encounter Fijian.

I think balance, maintaining a healthy weight, and exercise are much bigger factors as far as overall health goes.

I know during dieting I have tried lowering fat to very low levels (less then 50grams) in favor of carbs and my joints started killing me, however I have done diets consisting of no carbs except pre and post workout and the rest of my calories from fat/protein with no ill effects minus less endurance in the weight room. Good way to seriously disrupt your endocrine system, and who knows what else. Not to mention the whole low fat diet thing has been disproven. I'm not one of those people who thinks all natural is the best way to go, but honestly saturated fat has not been shown to cause any real damage in medical studies. Of course neither are naturally occurring in foods to the degree you get from say vegetable oil lol. So then it's polyunsaturated fats, then they find out those are inflammatory. First it's saturated fat, so people start making transfatty acids to make unsaturated fat solid at room temperature, then they realize trans fats damage arteries.

Click to expand.The medical community can't seem to make up their mind on what fat is bad for you lol.

Kavabets