Healthy lifestyle in Japan

I have stayed in Japan for over a month years back. I have noticed that they always eat healthy food. The meal that my foster mother would prepare is something healthy. I don't ever recall eating anything fried that time. Also in school, we were given milk and sandwiches as snack everyday. Also, in going to and from school, kids just either walk or use the bicycle. But most of them really just walk. So, I think that is one reason why there are few overweight people in Japan.

Though Japanese food is very healthy, most Japanese (especially the salary workers) have a very strong drinking habit. This is why in Japan, the number one reason for dying is liver cancer and heart attack.

Yes, i agree with your observation, Japanese are overall very health conscious, their government like to promote healthy life style to their population, their parent like to teach their children from childhood to have healthy eating since young. I assume they can not afford to stay obese like U.S children can, national health care cost is too high for any individual family to bear in Japan, and government doesn't provide much cover for obesity related illness.

The Japanese have a saying "Hara hachi bunme" eat only until you are 80% full. This is a very healthy way to eat. The Japanese people also walk everywhere. They use transportation less and walk when they can. Eating more fish than red meat is also very good for your health. I would like to go to Japan. I like the culture and some of the things they believe in. They're a very interesting people and country. If you want to go to Japan, Aka, you better start getting very healthy. Especially if you want a pretty young Japanese girl to marry you!

But In. Japan, here are so many weird programs too. Unbelievable ones actually. Good thing you saw a good one.

I heard japanese usually eat raw food such as raw fish.I only like sushi.And that weird program which mentioned just now are well known ,you really don't know?

I think a Japanese person eats healthy food for all their life. The working life seems quite stressful with top standards expected. They all seem slim and they live a longer lifetime than people from any other nationality. In other wealthy countries people seem to be less active and eat whatever they like. Fast food and sugary drinks seem popular to millions of people in wealthy countries. In America many people are overweight or obese. Even children can be obese in wealthy countries. In some developing countries some people have a hard time living and not enough food to eat. They are skinny thin and live in basic style housing. The body mass index is under 18 underweight, between 18 and 25 normal, 25 to 30 overweight and over 30 obese. I eat a vegan diet. I do lots of healthy exercise.

I also think that the Japanese have a healthy lifestyle. First, their diet focus on the beans, fish and so on. They like the fresh material and their taste is light rather than salty or oily. And usually their food portion is not so much. In fact eating too much is not good for the health. And they are hard working. Perhaps this spirit makes them to have ambitions and plus the healthy diet, their lives are longer.

guess it's in their culture. food preparation in Japan is also an art. they are prepared with time and effort and quality unlike in most countries where everything is done fast, neglecting the quality aspect.

That's what thy are famous for. Though you have to take noodles when going after time for work, it seems these people have healthy looks ironic to the sumo wrestler image.

I watched adocumentary about japan as well. It also mentioned the fact that you see fat people in there very rarely, unless it's a sumo wrestler. It has a very small heart disease rate mainly because their diet is based on fish and seafood, which is probably as healthy as it gets. Our diest is mediterranean, it also consists of seafood, but we also have a lot of red meat, that's why we also have a lot of fat people here.

This is a very interesting discussion! I am glad that you shared it with us. I hope we all follow what is necessary in order to maintain a healthy body. Have a nice day!

It's true! I took a nutrition class when I was 20 and was shocked to learn about how misguided America's nutritional values are. Most people don't realize that the pyramid guide isn't a good one. They are unaware of the dangers of refined sugar, saturated fats and over intake of salt. They don't know how to compose complex proteins or about how white flours have barely any nutrients. Others may no but then the fiscal problem presents itself. Canned and packaged foods are generally the cheapest which we all know is something most are looking for in this economy. Another problem is ease-- because most households need two incomes now, parents are working and after a long day of work, it's sometimes difficult for people to prepare fresh meals. This also contributes to unhealthy eating habits of prepackaged foods. There are a few foods claimed by some to be 'super foods' they are chock full of powerful antioxidants that can help ward off and prevent diseases. These foods include: pomagranites, blueberries, avacado, kale and the omega 3 found in fish oils. Also, another tip a lot of people don't know, is when they cook their vegetables, they actually lose a lot of the nutrients the vegetables contain. Eating vegetables raw is much healthier than cooking them. It's so important to eat healthy as it's been proven to play a major factor in our overall health. There are so many ways to do so if we only educate ourselves and put in the effort to do so. There are cheap options available, one must just be dedicated to the effort it requires. (Farmer's markets are a great way to get lovely fruits and vegetables!)

it's ok

Hi I too heard about many good things in Japan .so they have a very healthy life style . I heard that they have very clean roads . Interesting and good one as we don't find any dust free roads in our country.. Its good to know that they teach their children about the good habits from childhood. This indeed a basic step which children should know.