Healthy eating habits - how the Japanese keep healthy and in shape

Elderly people in Japan love to drink a cup of green tea after a meal, which not only aids digestion but also improves the body's ability to fight diseases.

Regarding health care, the Japanese can be said to have a long tradition, according to the statistics of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Japan is the country with the longest life expectancy in the world. of men is 81.41 years old and women are about 87.45 years old. 

Many Japanese people focus on health issues, in each daily meal they pay more attention to the delicacy and nutritional value of the dishes.

1. Likes to eat fish and drink green tea

Japan is surrounded by the sea, so fish is one of the most commonly eaten foods. Japanese people like to eat grilled fish, fried fish, sashimi, sushi, . are rich in protein and low in fat, which is the most eaten protein in life, so Japanese people don't gain weight easily.

In Japan, the elderly like to eat deep-sea fish, which contains a lot of DHA, known as the 'golden nutrient of the brain', and a number of antioxidants, which help to slow down the aging process.

Because they want to retain the most nutritional value of fish, the Japanese like to eat raw fish with seafood with spicy mustard. Compared with young people's addiction to carbonated drinks, elderly people in Japan like to drink a cup of green tea after a meal, which not only aids digestion but also improves the body's resistance to disease.

2. Add protein in each meal and eat a variety of vegetables

The traditional Japanese breakfast is quite simple, just a piece of fried fish with miso soup, rice and natto, all very digestible.

The Japanese eat 30 kinds of healthy ingredients every day, soak vegetables in small plates, then cook soup with tofu, katsuobushi and various vegetables to ensure maximum absorption of nutrients by the body. Because of the preference for the original taste, there are very few processed foods on the Japanese table.

Old people in Japan usually don't like greasy food, they like to boil a few slices of beef in a sukiyaki pot, then cook some green vegetables, meatballs, mushrooms and udon noodles. The rich broth can greatly enhance the flavor of the dish.

3. Usually eat natto, whites, raw eggs and other ingredients

The secret of Japanese health care cannot be separated from regularly eating natto (a traditional Japanese dish made from fermented soybeans), whites and raw eggs. These foods are rich in nutritional value and contain many protein components for the body. 

Glutinous natto contains nattokinase, which can protect the heart and blood vessels of the brain, and white fish is a food that is highly sought after by the rich in Japan. However, eggs should be cooked before eating.

4. Diet, eat less salt

Adult Japanese in meals will not eat too much, not only that, they also advise children to eat a sufficient amount of food to train their will and physique later.

Unlike the Vietnamese, who often like to add a variety of spices to their dishes and cook them a little richly, the Japanese strictly control the amount of salt they put into their bodies. It can be said that eating lightly and eating less are two long-standing secrets for the Japanese to stay in shape. If you stick to this diet for a long time, it will be very beneficial for the body.

In Japan, there are many kinds of buffet restaurants, barbecue restaurants and izakayas, although they sell grilled and greasy skewers, but when Japanese people eat buffet, they often have little choice of these foods, they will choose more. than dishes that are frugal and healthy.

We Vietnamese often cook our own dishes at home to reduce costs, but on the contrary, we eat a large amount of food at each meal, making our bodies overloaded and having health problems. In contrast, Japanese food has a high calorie content outside, but they do not use it often, it is only for special meals. Most of the daily meals are very simple and healthy.