Different cultural traditions have created different lifestyles, which have affected the health level of local people. For example, it has long been known that the Japanese love fish for longevity. In fact, not only Japan, but also many countries in the world have their own unique health classics. Recently, Jason beckfield, Professor of sociology at Harvard University in the United States, summed up good habits around the world that are worth learning from.
Australia: I don’t pursue high-intensity exercise. There is a saying in competitive sports: faster, higher, stronger. Many bodybuilders also implement this requirement in their lives. However, in the view of Australians, it is not the first choice for health to constantly pursue the limits of the body and overload the body. Their health philosophy is that they should stimulate the body and brain to benefit at the same time through seemingly simple and interactive activities, such as games and singing. Sonia Johnson, an Australian living in New York, said that the implementation of this concept has been carried out since infancy, which not only helps improve children’s exploration spirit of various sports, but also strengthens the relationship between parents and children.
Comment: “faster, higher, stronger” is only suitable for competitive sports, not for general fitness, otherwise it will backfire.
France: enjoy every mouthful of food. In the fast-paced life, many people are used to wolfing down, eating while walking, or mechanically stuffing popcorn into their mouths when watching movies. But in France, there is a saying, “enjoy your food, don’t swallow it in a hurry”. This tradition has greatly benefited the French people. Studies have found that focusing all attention on food while eating helps to control hunger, enhance satiety, and thus maintain body shape and prevent type 2 diabetes. This way of eating, together with the good habits of controlling the amount of food and eating less processed food, has become an important reason for the good health of the French.
Comments: chewing and swallowing carefully is indeed a good habit, which is conducive to the full absorption and digestion of food nutrients, so as to promote gastrointestinal health.
Iceland: swimming is also social in Iceland, you can hardly find a town without a public swimming pool. Swimming is a good whole-body exercise and beneficial to vascular health, but Icelanders like swimming for more than that. For Icelanders, swimming is not only a sport, but also a common social way. Beckfield believes that Icelanders have given swimming a new meaning, that is, swimming “lets us be together”. Research has confirmed that having satisfactory and close social ties will make people happier, healthier and live longer.
Comments: swimming is a good whole body exercise. If you have the conditions, you should often swim for exercise. A swimming coach in Beijing combined swimming with “Tai Chi” to create “water Tai Chi swimming”, with better results.
India: walk barefoot at home if you visit an Indian, you need to take off your shoes outside the door. Because in Indian culture, it shows respect. But now more and more studies have found that walking barefoot on different planes is like a comprehensive massage for the plantar nerves, which helps promote health, such as improving immune function and anti-inflammatory. People with diabetes or neuralgia are advised to wear socks.
Comments: there are 6 meridians connecting the viscera on the feet of the human body, and more than 60 acupuncture points are distributed on both feet. It is an indisputable fact that barefoot walking helps to promote health, and it is worth advocating in warm seasons. However, in the cool season, it is not recommended to walk barefoot, otherwise it will be harmful to the body.
Japan: soaking in hot springs is a daily activity in Japan, you don’t need to plan a spa holiday specifically, because for them, soaking in a hot spring is no different from brushing their teeth on weekdays, which is a very simple and common thing. Soaking in hot springs can not only promote metabolism, strengthen muscle strength and improve stress tolerance. Some studies have found that soaking the body in hot springs rich in minerals can treat anxiety, and even have better effects than taking medicine.
Comment: it’s good for you to take a hot spring regularly, but most Chinese don’t have this condition. In view of the situation in China, it is also a good choice to advocate soaking feet every day.
Sweden: only eat seasonal fruits and vegetables Sweden is a country with distinct seasonal characteristics: cold and dark in winter, warm and bright in summer. Swedes also continue this seasonal difference in the choice of diet types. In winter, when there is heavy snow and the temperature hovers around 0 ℃, Swedes will not try to eat raw tomato salad; In February, strawberries will never appear in the Swedish market. Califano, a gourmet from San Francisco, USA, has been in Sweden for a while. She believes that Swedes are used to eating local and seasonal fruits and vegetables, which is very good for their health.
Comment: as the saying goes, one side of the soil supports another. Eating local fruits and vegetables can prevent physical injury caused by gastrointestinal discomfort; Vegetables and fruits in season are fresh, with low probability of bacterial infection and less loss of nutrients. Therefore, eating local and seasonal fruits and vegetables is very healthy. However, with the improvement of living conditions and the improvement of technical level, it is not necessary to blindly exclude foreign fruits and vegetables. You can eat foreign fruits and vegetables appropriately, but you can’t eat too much at once.
Britain: eating at home is very common when visiting a family in London, kalifano was surprised by the size of their refrigerator. “Compared with American families, British refrigerators are really too small.” This is certainly a good thing, because the capacity of the refrigerator is limited, and people have to go out often to buy fresh ingredients, which avoids the accumulation of a large number of processed foods. More importantly, the volume of the refrigerator has not affected the enthusiasm of British people to cook at home. On the contrary, their enthusiasm for eating at home is much higher than that of eating out. The health benefits of this traditional habit have long been confirmed by research: eating at home can reduce calorie intake and make people eat healthier.
Comment: eating at home is indeed beneficial. First of all, it can control the intake of oil and salt, which helps prevent a variety of chronic diseases. Secondly, the quality of oil products is guaranteed, so some restaurants may use poor quality oil for cooking. Again, the ingredients are fresh, and they will be cleaned relatively clean, which can also ensure hygiene during cooking. Finally, eating at home is very cost-effective, which is conducive to developing the good tradition of diligence and thrift. Especially, sitting around the table can enhance family feelings. For Chinese people, the tradition of eating at home should be picked up.
Leave a Reply