Saturday, April 18, 2009

Secrets to steal from a Japanese Woman


Have you ever wonder why that Japanese women look slim and younger than their age and live a longer life as compared to other countries.

Ladies ladies out there, please pay attention now...you will know the secrets very soon!

Well the secrets are :

1) They never eat canned food. Typical Japanese have sashimi and sushi for their meal. No preserved or processed food. They eat a lot of fish like salmon and seafood that are high in protein. Moreover, fish reduce risk of heart disease and is full of omega 3 which are good for the skin. This explains why the majority of the japanese ladies stay slim and younger looking.

2) Typical Japanese ladies do not drink. They refrain themselves from it.
I do not know and can't say so about the younger generation.

3) Okinawa has the most longevity of any place in the world with a life expectancy of 81.2 years. They key factor to it is they practise calorie control in a cultural habit of eating until you are 80% full.
No overeating and no buffets...:)

4) Japanese are masters of zen. Staying calm is a Japanese attitude that has been proven be a key factor in keeping them youthful.
In the Okinawa study, centenarians shows low in displaying time urgency, tension and high in self-confidence and unyieldness. They are easy going, optimistic and adaptable. This is something we really have to adopt and practice especially this economic downturn time when everybody is feeling uncertain and dull about their future. Gan ba de... Jia You Jia You... buck up...:)


4) Japanese walks everywhere. They walk a lot. Instead of driving to supermarket once a week to lug back the week long of food, they usually walk to and from everyday. It is a walking culture which they cultivate over the years.
So ladies wait no further, start your walking regime now. A little walking every day does wonders for your well-being.

5) No maid policy. Instead of sitting down at a desk bound job, it is easier to stay slim tending to children and cleaning house. It is a common practice for a married women in Japan. They believe in doing everything themselves and not hiring maids.

Can our modern and capable mother do it in this technological, fast moving society? Well.... I would think it is difficult without the support and co-operation from your spouse or children... otherwise, it will be difficult to be a zen master. Hahaha...

6)Many Japanese ladies believe in natural therapies. They love hydrotherapies which help to relieve stress, soften the skin and releases endorphins.
Japanese faith in all things natural do not just stop at the food but extends over to what they apply to their skins. As such, if you review the skincare product in the market, you will find most of it natural or organic.

7) Japanese women are less ambitious and career minded as compared to woman around other developed countries. They are mostly full-time homemaker once after she is married or has a family. This cultural attitude actually means Japanese women experience less mental and emotional stress than those who are struggling to strike a balance between career and family. They have a well-defined role and they usually pick up leisure hobbies which is able to occupy their free time.

For this, I envy the Japanese culture.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Sweet potatoes


Today, my colleague shared with me her sweet potatoes (purple skin)for lunch. It is simply tasty and yummy... The thought of it make me hungry again.

Do you know Sweet potatoes has a high nutritional values. In fact, it is low in sodum, cholesterol free, fat free, high in fiber, with protein, vitamins A, B6 & C, iron and calcium. Orange and yellow sweet potatoes contain beta-carotene and purple sweet potatoes are very rich in anthocyanins. It helps to prevents osteoporosis, constipation, boost the immune system and anti-aging with whitening effect etc. It is also good for young children brain development and growth.

Is it amazing? A nice delicious food with high nutritional values. It is definitely a health food.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Healthy Sandwich

To lose weight is not about shutting off carbohydrates completely out of your meal. It is more about exercising regularly and knowing how to eat right.

To have a lighter meal of the day, you can opt for a tasty, crunchy Baguete Sandwich for lunch. See recipes below if you like my recommendation.



Ingredients

1 small baguette (purchased or freshly baked)
Cheese (may be soft cheese, such as Brie, or hard cheese, such as Gouda)
Ham
Tomato
Green Leafy Vegetable / Lettuce
Mayonnaise or mustard
Cornichons (tiny sweet French pickles) - Optional


Procedure


Slice the baguette in half lengthwise.
Spread one half with mayonnaise or mustard, depending on preference.
Arrange sliced cheese and ham over the mayonnaise.
Slice the sweet pickles in half, and arrange on ham.
Top with sliced tomato and green leafy vegetable/lettuce.
Wrap in plastic wrap and carry for lunch away from home.

Serves 1 or 2.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Pan fried Mackerel



Today, I have a special liking for fish, especially Mackerel.
As I was browsing through the web, I came across a recipe of Pan fried Mackerel cooked in the Japanese style. Look delicious and enough to make me drool...

The recipe is below:

Pan-fried Japanese-style Mackerel
Serves 2 people

2 mackerel filets
1 tbs yellow miso
1/2 to 1 tsp sugar
1 tbs mirin
1 tsp grated ginger
lemon or lime wedges for serving
finely sliced green onion for garnish

Methods

1) The paste by combining the miso, sugar, mirin and ginger.
2) Rub it on the meaty side of the fish.
3) Pan fry the fish in a fairly hot pan with a little oil.
4) Start with the skin side down, then flip it for the last minute or so.

Excessive fibre



Have you ever thought what would happened when one is eating too much fibre.

Well....hmmmm...

Consuming excessive fibre means the food will pass through the digestive tract faster, as such resulting in your body not able to absorb all the nutrients it needs. Over time, this would lead to anaemia and even bone loss when condition get serious.

However worry not, as most the time the consequences face are less frightening and serious. You will experience uncomfortness in the stomach bloated with gas or diarrhoea.

To prevent all of the above, it is recommended to spread your fibre intake over all your meals. Try to get it from natural sources like fruit instead of junk food or supplements. Natural is always better than artifical. Sufficient intake of fibres, vitamins are beneificial to the body and Too much will be a harm. Hence take care and don't just take fruits or veggies for a meal.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Rice Porridge, Congee



Today, I am looking forward to a bowl of steaming hot rice porridge with small little dishes like peanuts, omelette. Simple yet fulfilling and satisfying.

It may not catch the eye of many and may even feel it is dull for a meal, but believe me...it is always refreshing to have something that is not too heavy and comfortable for your stomach after a day of pizza and cocktail. At times, I will go for this simple meal to detox myself.

Simple meal can only be appreciated at time when you do not have appetite or when you have a heavy meal the previous day. In olden day, people do not have the luxury of having big fish or meats. They do not enjoy themselves with all these delicacies and yet they live to a life to the eighties, nineties and many to a hundred without much complain of aged ailments...why? I guess, it is high time we have to start to set our mind to think about it. Rather than popping in all the health supplements, vitamins, minerals and so on so fro...

To me, I think simple life, simple meal and a happy mind with exercise is a way to longevity.

Do you think so?