Did you know that the obesity rate in Japan is less than 4 percent? Is it because their traditional diet is the healthiest in the world? Possibly. Give it a try and see if you think their diet is healthier than Americans.
Japanese have miso soup with just about every meal, including breakfast! Women who eat broth based soup five to six times a week are more likely to have healthy BMIs than those that skip out on soup. Miso soup is surprisingly easy to make (and its part of the Ultimate Reset diet!). It can help you feel full longer and regulate your calorie intake for the day. So try starting your day with soup.
Make a rainbow on your plate. Ok, not, literally, but there’s a Japanese proverb that says, “Not dressing up the meal with color is like sending someone out of the house without clothes.” Try to incorporate five hues – red, blue-green, yellow, white and black – into every meal (Skittles and M&Ms don’t count). You’ll take in more low-calorie, high-fiber fruits and vegetables.
Don’t listen to your mom’s voice, “You have to finish your plate before you can be excused.” Yeah, you might be wasting food, but you need to stop while you’re ahead. Your goal is to finish eating when you are 80% full, not 110%!
Try these tips for a week, and then come back and let us know how it went!
Adapted from Fitness Magazine, October 2012
