We pride ourselves on having an international perspective and being world class, but perhaps we should consider taking some suggestions from abroad to improve our health. According to the Centers for Disease Control the Japanese have one of the highest life expectancies in the world. However, the life expectancy in the United States is placed into a much lower position by experts when compared to those of other developed countries. This ranking is due, in part, to the high presence of diseases such as heart disease and obesity among our population. Although many of the news articles point fingers at young children or older adults, college students are included in these statistics. The writers of Cougar Food and Fitness believe benefits can be gained if Americans adapt some of the eating habits of the Japanese. According to WebMD, an online health site, there are several reasons why the population of Japan enjoys such a high life expectancy. Jenny Kovacs contributed an article in which she cites a book by Naomi Moriyama titled Japanese Women Don’t Get Old or Fat: Secrets of My Mother’s Tokyo Kitchen. This article gives useful information on the various ways the Japanese stay so healthy.
· They limit their portion sizes.
How many times have you gone into a restaurant and been unable to finish the food given to you? Americans are notorious for huge portion sizes. According to Kovacs, unlike Americans the Japanese serve their food in small bowls and plates. Most restaurants serve portions that could feed two or even three people. Kovacs writes that when given a large portion, we eat 45 percent more. Next time you choose a restaurant think about the size of their portions and consider whether you would really eat that entire plate if you were at home dishing up your own meal.
· Rice and seafood is a staple of their diet.
When one thinks of Japanese cuisine rice may be one of the first foods that come to mind. Rice is a low-fat, complex-carbohydrate that fills you up quickly and fish is a great addition to any diet due to the high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, said Kovacs. Although the American diet includes grains and fish, quantities consumed do not come close to that of the Japanese. According to Kovacs, the Japanese eat 10 percent of the world’s fish and rice is served at practically every meal.
· Fruit is served after meals instead of a heavy dessert.
We all know it’s true, sweets are everywhere. From candy to cake, it is easy to let sugar enter the diet and become a huge portion of what we eat. Kovacs emphasizes the fact that many meals in Japan conclude not with a huge dessert, but with a serving of fruit. If you find yourself consuming large amounts of sweets perhaps you should consider swapping out that slice of cake for a serving of your favorite fruit. Even this substitution two days a week could prevent a large number of calories from being consumed.
Adapting small changes like those listed above may seem like common sense. However, if you think about what you ate this week, perhaps you will realize that the typical American does not adapt these changes into their diet. These suggestions can go a long way in changing how you think about food and maybe even how many years you expect to live. To read the full article and learn more about the Japanese diet go to, Diet of the World: Japanese Diet, http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/diets-of-world-japanese-diet
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