10 secrets to help Japanese people stay young and have fewer illnesses

According toBeauty TipsFor the past 25 years, Japanese women have consistently led the world in average life expectancy at 86.4 years. Japanese men also top the list thanks to their nutritious diet and relaxation by bathing in hot onsen water. Japanese people age with few illnesses, take care of themselves and live less dependent on social welfare programs.

Naomi Moriyama, author ofJapanese Women Don't Get Old or Fat, provisional translationJapanese women age slowly and do not get fat., takes readers into her mother's kitchen in Japan to partly explain the healthy lifestyle of Japanese women. She reveals 10 secrets to a long and healthy life that most Japanese people apply.

Diversify food sources

Each Japanese meal has a variety of food groups, rich in fiber, animal protein, and seasonal vegetables. Favorite foods include: rice, fish, seaweed, boiled soybeans and products made from these beans, green tea powder, fruits, vegetables, and carrots.

Prefer home-cooked meals

Although restaurant food is appealing, Japanese people still prefer to eat at home. A typical meal consists of grilled fish, rice, stewed vegetables, miso soup, sliced ​​fruit for dessert and green tea powder after the meal.

The Japanese consume 10% of the world's annual fish catch, despite having only 2% of their population. Fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and protein, which helps to nourish women's skin for a youthful, plump appearance. Salmon tops the list of favorite foods because it is low in calories and nutritious. Cruciferous vegetables, broccoli, cabbage, kale, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts, are consumed five times more than the average American's vegetable diet.

Eat slowly, divide into small meals

From a young age, Japanese children are taught to eat slowly, savor the delicious taste and be grateful for the food on their plate, and to eat just enough to be full.

- Don't let food fill the plates.

- Never eat a large amount of any food no matter how much you like it.

- Each dish is placed on a separate plate so that the flavors do not mix.

- Each dish is decorated naturally.

- Freshness is the top priority.

Eat fresh, seasonal foods

While many people choose expensive imported vegetables from other continents, Japanese people are still fond of local seasonal vegetables. According to author Moriyama, supermarkets in Japan sell fresh food with very short shelf life, Japanese housewives use vegetables that were packaged half an hour before for family meals.

Eat breakfast like a king

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Even though they are busy, they still try to have breakfast together at home with green tea, rice, miso soup with tofu and green onions, seaweed, omelette or fish.Eat less sweet desserts

After meals, Japanese people often have dessert made from green tea powder to help increase antioxidants for beautiful skin and hair. They rarely eat sweets such as chocolate and cakes so they do not have excess calories.

Eat rice instead of bread

Consuming too much refined sugar in bread is the cause of weight gain and overweight in the US. This is also the difference between the East and West eating habits. The Japanese and Asians in general prefer to eat rice for their main meals instead of bread.

Undercooking food

To maximize the nutritional value of food and to be confident in the freshness and safety of local food sources, the Japanese prefer to cook food just right. Steaming, grilling on a pan, stir-frying over low heat or quickly in a pan..., eating fresh food like sushi because of the freshness of the food.

No abstinence and suffering

Because of their moderate diet and lifestyle, the Japanese are rarely as obsessed with their weight as some other ethnic groups. From a young age, children are encouraged to enjoy a variety of foods. However, with the recent spread of Western eating habits, a number of Japanese youth have been influenced by the habit of eating fast food.

Do exercise

In Asia, the Japanese are famous for their love of jogging and walking. They have veteran long-distance runners. Sports such as cycling around the city, swimming, and martial arts are enthusiastically practiced by the people. They take advantage of climbing stairs and walking to keep their bodies flexible and not worry about accumulating fat.