Eating Healthy Diets: Japan and Italy Diet MenusEating A Healthy Diet To Lower Blood PressureEach culture of the world has its own unique diet. Eating healthy diets will explore two different cultures and ways of eating and why they have some of the healthiest diets in the world. Some of the healthiest countries in the world are Japan, China, and a few of the countries that are situated around the Mediterranean. Let’s take a look at two of these countries. Eating Healthy Diets: JapanJapan has significantly less incidence of heart disease, cancer and other debilitating illnesses. Why is that? The number one reason is because Asian cultures such as Japan and China do not eat a lot of fatty meats, dairy, and processed foods in their diet.Take these three types of foods out of the diet and most people would be healthy no matter where they lived. In fact, Japan has the lowest rate of heart disease in the world according to a ten-year study done on eating habits of several different countries in the world. The United Kingdom, Finland and United States topped the list of highest heart disease rates in the world. What does that tell you about diet? The healthiest countries are France, Italy, Japan and China. What do these countries eat in common? Let’s find out. A typical Japanese meal centers on rice and or noodles made from whole wheat, mung beans, pea starch, and buck wheat. It looks like a complex carbohydrate diet is the main part of the meal, whole grains. Meat is also used very sparingly in their cooking. If meat is eaten at a meal, it is usually grated or cut into small pieces. Then it is added to the rice or noodles much like a condiment for flavor. For protein, the Japanese do not use animal dairy but rather make dairy products using the soybean. In a process that is similar to cheese making, the beans are boiled down into a milky curd like substance known as tofu. Then it is formed into small blocks. The Japanese also incorporate a lot of cruciferous vegetables such as kale, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts into their diet. These vegetables and others are either eaten raw or quickly stir fried to retain the valuable nutrients. The Japanese diet also consists of lots of seaweed and fish. These are a very good source of nutrients. Nutrients such as protein, potassium, and omega 3 fatty acids, which help to protect against heart disease. The Japanese love seaweed and shell fish. The bottom line is they eat very healthy. Is it any wonder that the Japanese have the highest life expectancy in the world?
Eating Healthy Diets: ItalyThe Italians eat a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits, fresh fish, bean soups, tomatoes, pasta, and olive oil. Like the Japanese, southern Italian cooking does not center around fatty meats and dairy foods.It is believed that the oily fish that is loved by both of these countries has a lot to do with longevity. Omega 3 fatty acids that are found in fish protect the heart and the entire vascular system against disease. And lets not forget about the extra virgin olive oil. Although the Japanese are not known to eat olive oil, the Italians practically bathe in the stuff. Many researchers have considered that the Mediterranean diet with its great supply of natural antioxidants, such as vitamins A, C and E, beta-carotene and omega 3’s are definitely powerful defenses against disease. So what does the Japanese and Mediterranean diet have in common? Both diets and cultures are worlds apart, but yet they share in a more natural way of healthy eating. Everything is picked or caught fresh, and then eaten. In conclusion, it is shown that eating healthy diets including very little fatty meats, dairy, processed foods, and eating more fresh fish and vegetables has a lot to do with it. At least that is what these two countries share in common. Source: Eating For Good Health – Readers Digest
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