Statistically, Asians are the slimmest people on Earth. “That’s genetics,” you’ll say. But that’s only partly right: traditions and habits also play a big part in staying fit.
Clamotion has revealed 10 secrets that help Asians stay in shape without strict diets or exhausting exercises.
10. Attitude to food
Apart from the quality and quantity of food, your attitude to it also has an influence on your body. In the West, food is not just a natural need but also an entertainment – an approach encapsulated in eating contests.
It’s not like Asians don’t like to eat. They love food like anyone else, but ultimately this is only a means to sustain life to them.
9. Portion size
As a rule, Asians prefer to eat small portions; they like to choose from a variety of dishes and try several of them during the same meal.
Studies confirm that even a small portion reduction can lead to weight loss. Volunteers at Cornell University ate reduced portions during lunch but continued to eat anything they wanted for the rest of the day. As a result, each of them lost 1.1 lbs (500 g) in 2 weeks. This experiment also disproved the belief that a person will compensate for a calorie deficit by eating more later.
8. Cooking methods
Ethnic cuisine restaurants adapt their dishes to the tastes of the local population, so it may seem that their dishes are almost always deep-fried. That’s not exactly the truth: Asian cuisine surely has plenty of fried food, but that’s not the most popular method of cooking – many recipes include steaming or boiling. The main thing is to stay within limits.
7. Fermented foods
Miso soup, kimchi, natto soybeans – these are just a few typical Asian fermented foods. Being products of lacto-fermentation, these foods act as natural probiotics. Their consumption contributes to weight loss, especially the loss of visceral fat which accumulates around the abdominal organs.
6. Seafood
Asian cuisine is difficult to imagine without fish and seafood, which contain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids. In addition to their beneficial effects on the immune, vascular, and reproductive systems, omega-3 contributes to weight loss.
Researchers conducted a 3-week experiment which showed that when under the same conditions (calorie restriction and regular exercise), the group that received omega-3 capsules lost 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) more than those who consumed the placebo.
5. Lots of greens
open next page to continue reading….
