Food Planet: Hara Hachi Bu
Have you ever heard a word called "Hara Hachibu"? Hara Hachi Bu (腹八分) is a Japanese word that teaches people to eat until they are 80 percent full. It is a cultural practice of calorie restriction and mindful eating which is mainly among Okinawans. Surprisingly, Okinawa has the highest percentage in Japan of living to age 100 or more. An Okinawan woman, Kama, from the Matsuda family on "Hungry Planet" is over 100 years old. This is the Matsuda family from Okinawa, Japan. From the left, there is Takeo Matsuda, 75, Keiko Matsuda, 75, and Takeo's mother Kama, 100.
Even though we live in the same country, I recognized that their diet is very different from mine, which is, the Matsuda family lives a very healthy and organic life. This is what they consume in a week.
As you could figure from the list above, They spend a lot on fruits, vegetables, and nuts. If we look at the detail, what they buy is mostly natural vegetables. And what they don’t buy is prepared food. If we see the detail, they only bought canned beef stew and gyoza. Surprisingly, it was mentioned that Matsuda’s family has never eaten fast foods such as McDonald's, KFC, or A&W’s in their life.
Goya Champuru: the traditional local cuisine in Okinawa, which is also popular on the main island. Keiko adds Tsuru Murasaki, Yomogi, and other healthy local plants.
This was an excellent and detailed description of the lifestyle and eating preferences of the Okinawan Matsuda family. I thought it was so appropriate that they selected a family for the book that actually had a centenarian as a member. I wonder if members of this class hope to reach that ripe old age. I personally don't see living beyond 100 years of ago as a major goal in my life. I was surprised to meet an American guy (with a food manufacturing company) recently at a United Nations University special lecture who has the desire to live beyond 130 years of age. He firmly believes that though advances in science and by making sensible eating and lifestyle choices, it will be possible for most of us to live beyond 130. I think he is probably much too optimistic, but I was impressed by his complete confidence that this would become a reality.
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