Unravel Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Healthy Life by Hector Gracia
Ikigai is a Japanese concept referring to a sense of purpose in life that provides a sense of fulfillment that will give a person inner satisfaction. Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Hector Gracia discusses this at length in a compelling narrative.
Follow the Ikigai Diet for Wholesome Living
The Ikigai Diet, the diet eaten by Japan’s centenarians which is full of high fiber, largely plant-based diet, rich in what the West would consider superfoods. Living for years in the spotlight of healthy food and a diet on which Japanese are proud of having the longest life expectancy. the Japanese diet makes people live longer.
Various researches have been done to find out the reason behind it, Makoto Suzuki, a heart specialist from Ryukyus University in Okinawan diet, beginning in the 1970s, found out that it consists of an extremely rich variety of food full of health. Not even leaving a single quality of herbs and shrubs, it’s been said that the locals eat approximately 206 different foods regularly. To ensure that they covered enough rich food for their health a tactic is taken care of that the plate should contain at least all the colors of the rainbow.
Hara Hachi Bu – you are what you eat
The diet is based on grains, while seasonings like salt and sugar are used sparingly. According to them, a healthy diet should always be lacking in sugar and salt and only 80 percent of hunger should be fulfilled while eating to have a long healthy life.
By being a little bit hungry you can prevent yourself from procrastination and desire to be inactive. “Hara Hachi Bu” is even a concept in Japanese which the book Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Healthy Life also touches upon. “Hara Hachi Bu,” asks in very simple terms to avoid the desserts from the meal and decrease the size of the portion. This is a major reason why Okinawans serve small plates to practice a small portion of the diet and to encourage their concept for the same.
Even modern science has also confirmed the benefits of this concept and the advantages of calorie reduction. As explained by modern scientists, by reducing calorie intake one can live a longer life as it limits the insulin which is present with the presence of protein and increases the body’s and its cell’s age faster than usual.
Japenese Superfoods
Some Japanese foods hold a very vital role in the field of medicine also, like green tea which rejuvenates beverages loaded with antioxidants that control cholesterol, manage blood sugar levels, improve circulation and prevent various kinds of infections. Adding jasmine to it, one can improve cardiovascular health and boosts the immune system.
The book Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Healthy Life also mentions Shikuwasa, a citrus fruit-rich antioxidant. It’s a traditional fruit of the Japanese which needs to be diluted before consuming because of its acidic nature. Having a high concentration of nobiletin which is extremely rich in antioxidants which is forty times more than other citrus fruit. However, you may have a hard time obtaining this obscure Japanese citrus fruit.
Therefore, the Ikigai Diet is a protocol that encourages using naturally farmed locally sourced ingredients that are loaded with the characteristics which one should surely have in their diet. In today’s time, the sustainable need is to preserve all these aspects and concepts of Japanese secrets for living a longer and happier life with a healthy lifestyle.
