Most Western countries have an obesity epidemic these days, especially countries like the
US and the UK.
With large amounts of the populations struggling with their weight, we have to wonder how countries
like Japan stay as fit and healthy as they do.
With the longest life expectancy in the world, the Japanese must be doing something right.
So let’s look at the top 10 reasons why the Japanese keep so thin.
The Japanese Have Healthier Fast Food
When it comes to obesity epidemics, one of the main culprits is the fast food chain.
This is especially true in America where fast food is probably more accessible than fresh
ingredients.
With so many fried foods that are laden with fat and salt, it’s no wonder that obesity
is such a problem in so many Western countries.
Of course, it would be ridiculous to think that the Japanese population doesn’t enjoy
fast food.
The Japanese, like most of us in the modern world, struggle to find time for things like
home cooking, too.
There are thousands of Japanese fast food joints that are frequented on a daily basis
all over the country.
However, one thing that you will find is that in the fast food joints in Japan, the food
on offer is generally a lot healthier and far less calorific.
For example, when serving a burger, some locations offer a rice cake instead of a burger bun.
A lot of the Japanese fast food places also offer a lot of soups and Ramen noodle dishes
too, which are a great alternative to fried options like french fries.
In short, these fast food options tend to be lower in calories and not chock full of
substitutes, saturated fat and other additives, all of which can really mess up your metabolism
and make you pile on the weight.
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Eating On Time in Japan
With modern life being so hectic, it’s actually really hard to find the time to sit down for
a meal at a specific time.
Life is always throwing curve balls and it’s really difficult to know what you’re doing
from one day to the next, never mind scheduling in regular meal times.
However, something that the Japanese do could be the secret to their success.
For the majority of the Japanese households, mealtimes are set and everyone in the home
will eat at the same time.
They have three meals a day.
As a rough rule, breakfast will be eaten between 8am and 9am, lunch is served between 12pm
and 1pm and dinner is usually between 6pm and 8pm.
The good thing about this is that the body gets used to these regular meal times and
it really helps the metabolism.
If you’re struggling to maintain a slimmer figure, then the times at which you eat your
meals could actually be making a huge difference.
Try to have three solid meals a day that are eaten at the same time every day.
You may notice that your body starts to adjust and that you are not hungry until your next
meal is actually due.
It really could make maintaining a healthier body much easier.
In Japan They Are Careful With Their Portion Sizes
When watching American cooking shows, one thing that we can all agree on is that in
most cases, the portion sizes are often astronomical.
This is true of dishes in the United Kingdom, too.
American fast food joints are probably the worst culprits with banquet style portions
for just one person.
The trouble is that when we can see all of this delicious food in front of us, we will
want to eat it, whether we are full or not.
In Japan, the portion sizes are much, much smaller.
They even have a saying “hara hachi buchi me”, which roughly means, eat until you’re
8/10ths full.
This way of eating allows them to get the fuel that they need for the day without eating
for the sake of eating.
When plating up home cooked food, a lot of us will end up piling food high and stacking
different foods on top of each other just to get a bigger portion.
However, by simply eating a bit less and a bit slower, you are able to feel much more
satisfied with your meal.
Many people find that using a smaller plate can help, too - which is perhaps why the Japanese
use several plates to serve one meal.
Japanese Dinnerware Makes a Difference
When it comes to fast food, the majority of us will simply eat with our hands, especially
if the dish is something simple like burgers and fries.
Other dishes simply require a knife and fork.
The problem with this is that eating at high speed is very easy.
This can be especially tempting if you’re in a rush and need to get a meal in your stomach
as quickly as possible.
However, this is bad for the metabolism and also a recipe for indigestion.
When we eat at a high speed we tend to feel fuller quicker, but it doesn’t last as long
as it should.
One thing that you will notice about the Japanese is that they eat most of their meals with
chopsticks.
This makes eating at a high speed more difficult, which is great because it means that you are
fuller for longer and your food is digested properly.
Another thing that the Japanese tend to do is to serve their food on multiple plates
which also slows down the eating process.
By slowing down the speed that you eat at, you will find that you feel a lot more satisfied
after a meal, and that you’re not hungry until it is time to consume your next meal.
Taking your time and eating thoughtfully can go a long way to a healthier metabolism!
The Japanese Drink a Lot of Tea
I know what you might be thinking, how on earth does drinking tea affect your metabolism
in a positive way?
Well, super sweetened iced tea is not the tea we’re talking about!
The Japanese drink a lot of green tea.
If you have looked into drinking green tea before, then you will already be well aware
of the fact that there are plenty of health benefits that come with doing so.
For example, if you struggle with stress and anxiety, then studies have shown that drinking
green tea may reduce those symptoms.
Green tea could also help with insomnia, cardiovascular problems and even cholesterol levels.
However, one of the biggest benefits of green tea is that it is great for weight loss and
metabolism.
The Japanese drink huge amounts of green tea, which is perhaps another reason why they seem
to have healthy metabolisms.
The Japanese Diet is a Little Different
Another thing that you might have noticed about Japanese cuisine is the fact that it
is a little different to what we would eat on a day to day basis.
While the majority of us enjoy fried foods and lots of carbs, the Japanese follow a different
diet.
Their diets tend to be high in carbs but very low in fat.
They eat a lot of vegetables and lean meats, accompanied by fish and grains.
What makes their diet so healthy is the fact that it is very low in saturated fat.
With most people in Western countries, diets are high in carbs, high in fat and high in
salt, which does very little for the metabolism and a lot for the waist line unfortunately.
Following a Japanese diet could actually be the key to a healthier metabolism.
If you’re struggling with traditional Western eating methods, then perhaps a Japanese diet
is the key to your success!
Snacking in Japan
While snacking was once somewhat uncommon, today there is a big snacking culture in Japan.
There are also some big differences to the snacks consumed in the West.
Japanese consumers are demanding when it comes to creativity, and the multitude of snack
products are a reflection of that creativity.
While there may be plenty of vending machines ready to dish out a variety of the odd and
satisfying quick food fix, there are also plenty of healthy options.
One of the main reasons why a lot of Western countries suffer problems with obesity is
because of the amount of snacks that we consume.
Snacks such as chips, dips and candy are full of saturated fats, salt and sugar.
As well as this, the calories that they contain are shocking.
While some of today’s Japanese snacks may not be that different, moderation is still
key.
With a country always looking to be more health conscious, healthy snacks are an available
option.
So while we may find ourselves chomping down on a bag of salty chips and a Mars bar, the
Japanese are not necessarily enjoying a rice cake and a cup of green tea, but maybe their
healthier outlook on snacks is one of the reasons why they they are able to keep so
fit.
The Japanese View Eating Differently
For most of us, a typical meal time consists of sitting in front of the television with
our food on our laps and eating our food fast while binging on TV shows.
As you can imagine, this is not exactly healthy, nor is it good for the metabolism or the digestion
of our food.
With everyone and his dog owning a smartphone, this is another distraction that a lot of
us will partake in when we’re eating our food.
The Japanese have a different view regarding eating.
Their food and mealtimes are treated with the utmost respect.
They tend to not have distractions around them when they are eating and are very mindful
about their food and enjoying it properly.
This is far better for digestion and the metabolism.
If you’re looking for a healthier lifestyle, then it can’t hurt to remove all distractions
when you’re eating and really think about enjoying your food and eating slowly.
It really could make all the difference.
The Japanese Eat a Lot of Fish
When thinking about Japanese cuisine, there is one thing that will spring to mind for
most of us, and that is sushi.
It’s an international phenomenon!
In the US and UK there are thousands of sushi restaurants to choose from.
However, the Japanese don’t eat sushi nearly as often as they do seafood in general.
If you have looked into the benefits of seafood yourself, then you will know that one of the
biggest advantages is that it is very lean, especially when you compare it with other
meats like steak and chicken.
It’s also very good for overall health - like the fatty acids found in fish, which are great
for your brain.
There are many Japanese seafood dishes that have become popular worldwide, but if you
want to start with the basics, then sushi is a great option to consider.
One of the reasons why fish is so big in Japan is because Japan is composed of a group of
islands, so fish is easily accessible.
As well as sushi being a staple of the diet for most Japanese people, they also tend to
eat a lot of pickled and fermented fish.
This may not be to everyone’s tastes, but who knows - maybe it’s an acquired taste!
Eating a Variety of Land and Sea Vegetables in Japan
When taking a look at a traditional Japanese diet, one of the things that you will notice
is that they consume a large number of both land and sea vegetables.
When we think of vegetables, most of us will think of typical things such as potato s,
green beans or kale, in terms of greens that are very good for you.
However, the Japanese take it a step further by adding things like seaweed to their diets.
This might not sound all that important, but the simple fact is that seaweed actually has
a number of potential health benefits, including reducing blood pressure and helping with weight
loss.
Seaweed is bursting with vitamins and minerals!
The majority of traditional Japanese dishes will consist of a number of different land
and sea vegetables, which is definitely one of the reasons why the Japanese seem to have
such healthy metabolisms and long lifespans.
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