However, the typical diets of the three areas are similar in three general ways: (1) The fruits and vegetables are all natural; that is, they contain no preservatives or other chemicals (2) Furthermore, the population uses traditional herbs and medicines to prevent and cure disease. (3) The inhabitants consume fewer calories than people do in other parts of the world. A typical North American eats and drinks an average of 3,300 calories every day, while a typical inhabitant of these mountainous areas takes in between 1,700 and 2,000 calories.