Eat Like The Japanese

While the French paradox -- a nation of cigarette smokers, cheese eaters and wine drinkers who are actually healthier than most other developed populations -- seems to make little sense on the surface, very few people are surprised to hear that the Japanese are among the healthiest in the world.

Japanese people enjoy one of the longest average life spans in the world -- 86 years for women and 79 for men versus 80 and 75 respective years for Americans -- with far lower rates of obesity and chronic diseases like osteoporosis, heart disease and some types of cancer.

Part of that success is a product of lifestyle -- Japanese people tend to exercise more than we do -- and part of it is due to diet. Not only do the Japanese eat healthier than North Americans -- their diet is made up of low-fat, high-carb and protein-rich foods that are loaded with all sorts of nutrients and antioxidants that our diets don’t come close to matching -- but they also eat less. The ancient Japanese proverb hara hachi bunme says it best: “Stop eating when you are 80% full.” So, while our society glorifies terms like “super-sized” and “all you can eat,” in Japan, foods are eaten slowly and in smaller quantities. Meals are appreciated as much for their excellent taste as they are for their beautiful presentation. Not surprisingly, the Japanese eat about three-quarters of the calories per day that Americans do.

Lifestyle changes aside, there are a few basic tips you can follow to help you eat healthier like the Japanese. It isn't particularly difficult and it will help change your diet for the better.

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