If you have ever visited Japan, you have surely wanted to know the secret of Japanese women, who remain young, slim, and beautiful all their life.
Apparently, their youthful appearance and body are due to their cuisine and lifestyle. The Japanese people live and eat healthily, and that is their secret to longevity. Actually, it is home to the highest proportion of people who live more than 100 years in the entire world.
They do not focus on taste only, but they also consider the health benefits of the foods they consume. These are the top 10 reasons why Japanese women look young and slim.
- Green Tea
The Japanese people love green tea. The preparation of matcha (powdered green tea) is a real ceremony, which is a Japanese cultural activity.
It is made from the dried leaves of the highest quality, which are then milled into a fine powder, which is added to water.
This tea is extremely delicious and beneficial, and it helps weight loss, lowers the risk of cancer and heart diseases, and it is high in antioxidants that fight free radicals and delay the aging process.
A 2006 study published in JAMA found that adults in Japan who drank higher amounts of green tea had a reduced risk of death due to all causes, and people who had 5 cups of green tea daily had 26 percent lower mortality rates.
- Small Portions
The size of your portion is of huge importance, and small portions will help you lose weight, as they help you eat less. Therefore, make sure you do not serve in big portions, and do not fill up the plates.
Also, the Japanese garnish each item on the menu in order to show its natural beauty.
- No walking lunches
The Japanese people respect their meal time, so they believe it is rude to eat on the go. While they eat, they do not do anything else, no TV, no work.
They eat slowly, which is also helped by the use of chopsticks, so they stomach has more time to process the food, and the brain gets the signal that it is full.
- Fermented Foods
Fermented foods such as miso, kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut, tempeh, and kimchi are often consumed in Japan.
These foods undergo a process of lacto fermentation, which preserves the natural nutrients in food and creates B vitamins, beneficial enzymes, omega-3 fatty acids and various strains of probiotics.
This process promotes friendly intestinal bacteria and breaks down food to a more digestible form, helps weight loss, helps digestion, and eliminates the accumulated harmful toxins and heavy metals from cell tissue.
The findings of a 2014 study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology showed that fermented dairy products stimulate the growth of beneficial intestinal microbes.
- Martial Arts
Numerous people in Japan practice some form of martial art, like judo,
karate, and aikido, which improve heart health and the muscle flexibility, boost endurance, build muscle strength, slow down aging, and help weight loss.
According to a2013 pilot study published in Clinical Medical Insights: Women’s Health, martial art exercise lowers inflammation in obese premenopausal and overweight women, improves body composition, and favors bone turnover biomarkers, by increasing bone formation and decreasing bone resorption.
- Seafood
The Japanese prefer seafood over meat, and thus prevent numerous health issues like high cholesterol levels, obesity, and inflammatory diseases.
People often eat rice or noodles with seafood, like salmon, tuna, mackerel, and shrimp. Seafood relieves inflammation and supports the health of the nervous system.
Fish is high in high-quality proteins, omega-3 fatty acids, and numerous nutrients, which support the health of the heart, brain, and organs.
Omega-3 fatty acids help in the elimination of body fat, especially in the abdominal area, promote smooth skin and prevents skin conditions, like psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, acne vulgaris, non-melanoma skin cancer and melanoma.
The Japanese consume fish in various ways, grilled, fried, steamed, baked, poached, and believe that the more fish you eat, the healthier you will become.
- Walking
Japanese people walk a lot, which helps them to remain fit. It also energizes their bodies, prevents heart issues, relieves stress, and improves the mood.
Due to the high concentration of the Japanese people in the cities, they often need to walk or bicycle to the train or subway station and back.
- Healthy Desserts
Japanese women often avoid sweets and consume fresh fruits instead. Moreover, their sweets are high in refined flours, have a lot less caramel, and contain numerous harmful, fattening ingredients.
They eat sweets from healthy ingredients, like fruits, sweet potatoes, and buckwheat flour.
- Hot Spring Baths
The common practice of a hot spring bath, or “onsen” prolongs life. Japan is a volcanically active country, so it has thousands of them on its major islands.
These springs have potent healing properties due to the temperature of the water and its mineral content, like niacin, magnesium, calcium, and silica.
When the skin soaks in the water, the hydrostatic pressure rises, and thus boosts the blood circulation and oxygen flow throughout the body. It also relieves stress and makes the skin smooth and soft.
- Healthy Cooking Methods
The Japanese cuisine also healthy cooking methods, and people mostly consume raw, grilled or simmered foods. They rarely consume deeply fried foods, and when they eat tempura, for instance, they have only a few pieces.
Therefore, if you are fascinated by Japanese women, start eating like them!
