Dr. Oz and the Japanese Secrets for a Long and Happy Life
This episode of Dr. Oz was excellent. It discussed the primary foundation of the approach to a happy and fulfilling life with a sense of purpose or ikigai that pervades Japanese culture. The foods that were discussed are a part of the traditional way of Life in Japan and other Eastern cultures which lead to a long and satisfying Life.
It was a good introduction, but there’s so much more to tell you. Let’s begin with the basics and build from here. Your attitude about Life is all-important and affects your health and well-being. There is a great respect, admiration, and awareness of well-being in Japanese culture that contributes to Balance and Harmony in all things, especially the daily regimen of food and drink.
Macha Green Tea is the substance that is traditionally used during the Tea Ceremony which is an art form that has depth and purpose far beyond what we are going to discuss on this post. This potent powder from Green Tea is the finest and the most healthful form and it enhances the body’s health as well as clearing the Mind and being a focal point for the Spirit. It is exacting and exquisite when performed. You can still learn how to drink Macha Green Tea for the health benefits that it provides, even if you don’t embrace the subtle aspects of the entire Tea Ceremony.
My favorite food that is popular in Japan that Dr. Oz talked about is seaweed. He only mentioned nori which is commonly eaten with sushi. But the health benefits of eating daily amounts of wakame, kombu, hiziki, and other sea vegetables includes the variety of seaweeds that are different in texture and used for different dishes. I love my kombu in my bean dishes and my wakame in soups with barley miso. I often pair my hiziki with onion, carrots, scallions, toasted sesame oil, ginger root, and tamari.
I am not a fan of natto, but I do have a small amount as one of five or six dishes for an evening meal. I do typically include organic brown rice with two meals daily and only rarely eat organic basmati white rice. The Japanese do enjoy many whole grains and one of the foods that you’ll love are soba noodles in a miso broth with vegetables.
Fermented foods are much more important than Dr. Oz indicated and we’ve told you about them before. Sauerkraut, pickled daikon, and many other fermented veggies are daily delights. Dr. Oz forgot to tell you about the relative importance of beans, greens, shi-itake, and seeds like sesame seeds in the Japanese diet.
There’s more to it than maintaining one’s ideal weight, having plenty of energy through the day, and remaining healthy throughout one’s Life; it’s a spiritual way of living that permeates one’s entire life at every level down to every morsel of food one eats and every sip of tea or soup one enjoys with total respect and in perfect harmony.
The East meets the West and you still have a lot to learn to embrace the wisdom of these ancient traditions…
