The Japanese are well known for being a meticulous people. It’s always been understood that if something is Japanese made, it will not only last but will be of the best quality. The Japs apply this philosophy to themselves and their everyday lives as well. This has led them to become the country with the largest proportion of people living above 100 years. Not to mention the fact that the Japanese seem almost ageless with their supple physique and flawless skin.
So, what is the secret to their longevity and youthfulness?
Their diets
The Japanese diet is abundant in seafood, fermented foods, and green tea.
Seafood is known for its health benefits. The miracle component in seafood is omega 3 fatty acids, which have been found to be very effective at reducing abdominal fat. They also reduce inflammation and help keep the skin smooth and supple.
The Japanese also eat a lot of fermented foods like miso and shoyu (soy sauce). Fermented non-dairy foods have been linked to better gut health as they contain beneficial probiotics that are released during the fermentation process. Japanese fermented foods are not only delicious but they’re also healing your gut as you eat them.
Green tea, as we already know, comes with great health benefits. The strong antioxidants present in it help fight free radicals and delay the ageing process. According to a 2006 study published in the medical journal, JAMA, adults in Japan who consumed higher amounts of green tea had a lower risk of death due to cardiovascular disease. The study also says that Japanese citizens who drank five cups of green tea per day had 26% lower mortality rate. Oh, not to mention that green tea also aids in weight loss.
Healthy meal-time rules
Japanese meal-time has certain rules: The portion sizes are small, you never eat on-the-go, and cooking methods rarely involve unhealthy styles like deep frying.
Japanese meals are served in small portions. They’re also served in smaller plates, which gives the illusion that the portion is larger than it actually is. This portion control keeps unintentional overeating (and thereby its consequences) at bay.
How many times have we been guilty of eating in the car on our way to work or at our desks? Meals are seen as an important part of one’s day in Japan and, therefore, they must be accorded respect. Eating on-the-go is a big no no in Japan.
Japanese cooking methods usually involve boiling, steaming, grilling, or just eating food raw. Food in Japan is considered best when it is fresh–unless it is intentionally fermented. Even when you do end up deep frying something like tempura, it is served as an accompaniment to a much larger meal so you don’t end up filling up on it.
When you combine all three–small meal portions, no eating on-the-go, and healthy cooking methods, you get a population of people that eats in a healthy and conscious manner.
Exercise is a daily activity
Martial arts like Aikido and Karate–yes, karate is Japanese and not Chinese–are very popular in Japan. Both require immense mental discipline, strength, and physical skill. This helps keep the Japanese up to the mark when it comes to fitness. Many Japanese companies have even made exercising while at work mandatory! Fitness is taken very seriously.
Even if people are not practising martial arts, they end up walking a lot through the course of a day. Japan’s population is very concentrated in its cities, so people tend to take the subway to work. This makes them walk or take a bicycle either to the metro station or to work itself. Even school children are expected to walk to school.
Now we can see why the Japanese live long and healthy lives. It’s not just sheer genetic luck, their very lifestyles make sure of it. What are you waiting for? It’s time to start living like the Japanese.
