Have you ever been to Japan or met Japanese people? One thing might have crossed your mind: “Why are Japanese women so slim and look so young?”
Their cuisine and lifestyle are the reasons why Japanese people are healthy and young looking. For them, food is not solely eaten for taste. They believed in extracting health benefits from their food.
Here Are The Reasons Why Japanese Women Stay Slim And Don’t Look Old
Drinking Green Tea
People from Japan love to drink green tea. Matcha or powdered green tea is made from highest quality leaves, which are dried and milled into a fine powder and then mixed with hot water.
Green tea, which is one of the healthiest teas in the world, is rich in antioxidants that help fight free radicals, delays the aging process and aids weight loss.
The risk of heart disease and cancer are reduced when you regularly drink green tea.
Practicing Martial Arts
Both men and women in Japan practice some of the forms of martial arts. Their martial arts style plays an important role in improving fitness level and overall health of Japanese women. It helps build muscle strength, improve cardiovascular fitness and endurance, improve muscle flexibility, aid in weight loss and slow the aging process.
Eating Smaller Portions
Serving small portions is part of Japan’s culture. It helps you lose weight as it can make you eat less. On smaller plates, portions also look larger and this contributes to less eating.
Eating On The Go Is A Big No-No
Meal times in Japan is considered to be sacred periods of energizing your body, whereby there are no walking lunches. That’s why you will rarely see anyone eat on the street or while riding a public transport.
In Japan, you do not do anything else while eating. They slowly eat their meal to give time for their stomach to process the food and signal the brain that it is full.
Popularity Of Seafood
Instead of red meat which is associated with many health problems, Japanese people like to eat seafood.
Extremely popular in Japanese cuisine are fish and shellfish like mackerel, shrimp, salmon, and tuna. Noodles or rice accompanied by different types of seafood are common meals in Japan.
Fish has high-quality proteins, various essential nutrients, and omega-3 fatty acids, which are perfect for the heart, brain, and organs.
Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce body fat and promote smooth skin by preventing many skin disorders such as psoriasis, vulgaris, atopic dermatitis, acne, melanoma, and non-melanoma skin cancer.
In Japan, people believed that the healthier the fish, the better is it for you.
Walking Is A Ritual
Both men and women in Japan walk a lot. Walking is a good form of exercise that would help you remain fit and slim. Aside from helping with weight loss, it also boosts energy and mood, relieves stress, and improves cardiovascular health.
Instead of being dropped off by their parents, children in Japan walk a good part of the way to school.
The use of bicycles, which is another good form of exercise, is also popular in Japan.
Healthy Desserts
One secret as to why Japanese women stay slim is that they eat sweets less often. They prefer eating fresh fruit at the end of their meal rather than sugar-laden desserts.
Hot Spring Baths
A hot spring bath prolongs life. Hot springs have healing powers. They are beneficial for health due to the temperature of the water along with the mineral content, such as niacin, silica, magnesium, and calcium.
A bath in a hot spring enables your skin to soak in these minerals. This leads to better oxygen flow and blood circulation throughout the body – which is beneficial for your heart and other vital organs and tissues. Additionally, it also promotes better sleep and aids in reducing stress, which in turn benefits your skin health.
Healthy Cooking Methods
Aside from using healthy ingredients, Japanese cuisine also uses healthy cooking methods.
Deep frying food is rare in Japan. Instead, raw, grilled and simmered techniques predominate, which help avoid the use of excess oil.