Japanese prioritize prevention over treatment, emphasizing a balanced approach to health. Unlike some cultures, such as America, they don’t heavily focus on vigorous exercise or frequenting gyms. Instead, their lifestyle reflects a holistic approach to well-being. This cultural distinction promotes the importance of health and discourages the pursuit of ideal bodies through unhealthy diets.
Instead of overworking the body to compensate for excessive calorie intake. The Japanese opt for balanced meals and walk several kilometers daily for commuting or shopping.
Many people do not go to the gym and do not buy expensive products to maintain their healthy lifestyle because their daily routine is already healthy. And the Japanese are not obese people (only 4% of the population), although most of their meals depend on rice rich in starches.
This is what one of the writers of The Medium website, an American of Japanese descent, found. She lived with her family for several years and was able to lose about 10 kilograms within a year. Without the need to engage in severe exercise.
Japanese tips for losing weight
These tips are very important for those who cannot exercise for health reasons, injuries, or other reasons.
In this report, we review 4 tips inspired by the Japanese for weight loss :
1- Immerse the body in a hot bath for 20 minutes every two days
Immersing the body in hot water for a prolonged period helps raise the metabolism or burn calories.
The Japanese advise soaking the body in a hot water bath for 20 to 30 minutes every two days.
Bathing for longer than half an hour may be counterproductive, and the specified period is equivalent to relaxing in the hot tub at the gym for a short period. Because others are waiting.
You can browse a book or phone so that time passes smoothly without getting bored.
The water temperature should be between 37 and 41 C, so bathtubs in Japan are equipped with a thermometer to add some hot water when the temperature gets low.
The Japanese recommend this type of bathing to speed up the metabolism, cleanse the body of toxic substances, and get rid of flatulence.
To combat dehydration, it is recommended to drink water before and during recreation.
2- Chew food for a longer period
This trick is most effective for people who tend to overeat or struggle with portion control, as chewing helps you feel full longer.
Chewing food promotes timely digestion. If we hastily swallow our food without adequately chewing it, it can lead to two potential side effects:
1) Difficulty digesting food.
2) Saliva cannot break down food.
Saliva contains amylase and lipase, which help break down food and, on top of that, have an antibacterial effect. So chewing food excessively allows saliva to do its job to the fullest.
In addition, chewing alone releases histamine in the brain; Which tricks him into thinking we’re full. It’s a simple mental trick: chew at least 30 times for each bite of food, alternating on the right and left sides of the mouth.
3- Eat vegetables first
This habit is ingrained in Japanese culture, as Japanese meals traditionally offer a healthy balance of grains, protein, and vegetables, and the Japanese always start eating vegetables before indulging in protein and grains.
This trick is partly psychological, as eating vegetables first makes us feel full before eating other foods. The Japanese also believe that eating vegetables at the beginning of the meal helps build a body that is more resistant to weight gain.
4- Replace rice and pasta with konjac
Konjac does not have a strong flavor, so it is easy to cook with almost anything as a substitute for rice or wheat noodles and will take on the flavor of whatever you cook with it.
It is sold in the form of rice grains and noodles, knowing that konjac rice consists of 97% water and the rest of fiber.
Konjac products are widely used in the Western world for weight loss and cholesterol management. The reason is that they are rich in water-soluble fiber, which helps lower sugar levels.
Because it expands in the stomach, it slows the speed at which the digestive system empties, and helps you feel full longer.