What might seem silly has some truth behind it.
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lexabeep
Posts: 232 Member
What is something you learned about another cultures food or health trends that you have added to your life/ or just thought was interesting?
The Japanese swear by taking onsen( hot mineral baths), drinking green tea, eating pickled/fermented foods and are extremely active. They are obsessed with youth and smother themselves in collagen in side and out. They drink a lot and smoke excessively. Eat high calorie, non nutrient dense food. They even have a word describe filling their ‘second’ stomach. Of coarse they don’t always eat like this but their restaurants are full of foods like this. However they live the longest on the planet. They are doing some thing right!
The Japanese swear by taking onsen( hot mineral baths), drinking green tea, eating pickled/fermented foods and are extremely active. They are obsessed with youth and smother themselves in collagen in side and out. They drink a lot and smoke excessively. Eat high calorie, non nutrient dense food. They even have a word describe filling their ‘second’ stomach. Of coarse they don’t always eat like this but their restaurants are full of foods like this. However they live the longest on the planet. They are doing some thing right!
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I dont think smoking excessively should be classed under "doing something right" lol
Same with drinking a lot.
The japanese have a lot of health problems, 1 in 10 die of smoking, cancer is a huge problem there, they have athletes foot from taking community baths, heart disease, pneumonia..
In fact all the same things that happen here, we also have people that live long lives, my grand mother lived to 102, I have had residents at the nursing home live to 104 and 107.. lots live to over 100.. it's not a rare oddity here.8 -
In light of the topic, my cultural intrigue is with the Mediterranean cultures and Middle Eastern. We love the foods and lifestyles from both cultures and have implemented a lot of them into our own American lifestyle and food. We tend to try for red meat no more than once a month, have a higher fish intake, and do long family walks and hikes when weather (and pandemic lol) are permitting. If we can walk there, we do that!
I loved studying the Greek culture because they’re some of the healthiest in the world. One island in particular is always studied because they live so long. When you look at the people they’re not ripped and shredded, and some even have bellies! It’s fascinating that the food we eat has such a big impact. They also walk a lot and lots of their walking is hilly. I believe their food is all organic and locally sourced; they’ll pick their greens right from the hills for their meal and they believe in resting and relaxing. The tie between decrease in stress and organic, fresh food (and the oils from fish and olives) have done the Greek people well.6 -
Which island is this? What you describe just there sounds like an unsustainable fantasy.
I always find it interesting to see how different cultures have a combination of grain and vegetarian protein to come up with a complete protein, in spite of food science being a relatively late development for humans.4 -
The average French person eats 4 times as much butter as the average American, yet they have a much lower obesity rate. Lesson: eat more butter.12
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Oh no I just mean it is odd that they do those things and yet still have the longest life span on the planet. My bad in the wording!KrissFlavored wrote: »I dont think smoking excessively should be classed under "doing something right"0 -
Okay so I realize the wording might be mistaken for me thinking smoking, drinking and eating to excess is good for you. I DONT a think this. It’s just an observation that the Japanese also have these terrible habits along with some other really healthy cultural habits that does have some science behind the health benefits. Such as eating fermented foods being good for your gut health.
And as I’ve mentioned above they have the longest average life span on the planet. They also do have an over all very healthy population. This data can all be found on through the WHO webpage and serval other web sources. Thanks for everyone’s comments thus far. I love learning new things an appreciate the contribution!1 -
Oh Bread and butter. It is my dessert to be honest. The French overall walk a lot too don’t they? Maybe that has something to do with it
.SuzySunshine99 wrote: »The average French person eats 4 times as much butter as the average American, yet they have a much lower obesity rate. Lesson: eat more butter.
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Oh no I just mean it is odd that they do those things and yet still have the longest life span on the planet. My bad in the wording!
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The devil is in the details. As usual.
Japan, has a highly homogeneous demographic and has the oldest age to mortality than most other countries. 84 years.
But, my zipcode in a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio is also quite homogeneous. Not like Japan, of course, but mostly white European ancestry and mostly prosperous. It has a life expectancy of 85.8.4 -
You should check out areas known as ‘blue zones.’ Japan has one in Okinawa. Several islands are know as ‘ lands of the immortals.’ And I think it used to have the largest population of centenarians in the world. I’m not sure but it always happens to be in one of these ‘blue zones’. That number is pretty amazing for your suburb. Must be a very healthy place to live! Lucky you.wilson10102018 wrote: »
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But, my zipcode in a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio is also quite homogeneous. Not like Japan, of course, but mostly white European ancestry and mostly prosperous. It has a life expectancy of 85.8.
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We also have many blue zones in Italy.5
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MelanieCN77 wrote: »Which island is this? What you describe just there sounds like an unsustainable fantasy.
I always find it interesting to see how different cultures have a combination of grain and vegetarian protein to come up with a complete protein, in spite of food science being a relatively late development for humans.
Ikaria.0 -
MelanieCN77 wrote: »Which island is this? What you describe just there sounds like an unsustainable fantasy.
I always find it interesting to see how different cultures have a combination of grain and vegetarian protein to come up with a complete protein, in spite of food science being a relatively late development for humans.
It’s the Greek island of Ikaria.1 -
Oh Bread and butter. It is my dessert to be honest. The French overall walk a lot too don’t they? Maybe that has something to do with it.SuzySunshine99 wrote: »The average French person eats 4 times as much butter as the average American, yet they have a much lower obesity rate. Lesson: eat more butter.
They certainly do. A French friend of mine who is now a local here in America is astounded at how much driving we do to get normal things and go to a friends house. Our infrastructure isn’t built to accommodate a walking type of lifestyle, and it seems Europe is... or most of the world haha.1 -
fairestthings wrote: »Our infrastructure isn’t built to accommodate a walking type of lifestyle, and it seems Europe is... or most of the world haha.
Largely true, but it depends specifically where you live. I am in the US, and can access most anything I want by foot (although going to the office in normal times requires a bike or public transit).2
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