3 Japanese Habits To Prevent Diabetes

Illustration of a Japanese man eating (Freepic/Freepic)

JAKARTA - diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes, has become an increasing global health problem, including in Indonesia. However, in Japan, they face a shift in their diet towards a Western lifestyle, so that the number of diabetics is much lower than other countries.

What makes Western diets and culture increase blood sugar levels? There are likely to be a combination of several factors, ranging from lack of physical activity to consumption of high sugar and processed foods. However, that doesn't mean it's too late to switch to a healthier lifestyle.

There are also some habits from Japanese culture that can help increase insulin response and reduce diabetes risk. Here are 3 Japanese habits to prevent diabetes, as reported by VOI from the Woman's World page on Tuesday, November 19, 2024.

In Japan, people often combine their food with green tea. Why is this important? A study published in the Diabetes & Metabolism Journal shows that this habit can reduce the risk of diabetes every day.

Strong plant compounds, such as polyphenols and polysocides in green tea help balance blood sugar levels. One of the easiest ways to make sure you drink two to three cups of green tea every day is to eat it with food, either ordinary or without caffeine.

Women in Japan often add a little rice vinegar to carbohydrate-rich rice while cooking. Research from Arizona State University found that combining vinegar with carbohydrate-rich foods could increase insulin response.

This is because acetate acids in vinegar inhibit enzymes that break carbohydrates into sugar too quickly, thus preventing sugar from flowing into the system excessively. To get the benefits, you can add a vinaigrette of red wine to the salad.

Japanese people tend to include a little movement in their daily lives, such as walking after eating. This habit turns out to have great benefits.

Recent research published in Sports Medicine found walking for two minutes from one room to another could reduce the jump in blood sugar after eating. The movement after eating signals the body to pull glucose circulating in the blood directly into muscle cells, a place that should be the main goal of glucose.