Japan is a nation that whole-heartedly throws itself into fads. As Japan continues the long march from post World War II and postwar hunger toward greater and greater problems with metabolic syndrome and obesity, more and more Japanese are interested in diets. Like many dieters in the United States and around the world, many Japanese are looking for a quick way to lose weight. Lifestyle change involving more exercising, better dietary habits and fewer calories appear to be far from the minds and actions of many people interested in losing weight. Instead, people are searching for the magic bullet. Recent years have seen diet fads focusing on bananas, natto, and agar.
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The Banana Diet Fad and Other Fad Diets in Japan - By: Tom Aaron
Japan is a nation that whole-heartedly throws itself into fads. As Japan continues the long march from post World War II and postwar hunger toward greater and greater problems with metabolic syndrome and obesity, more and more Japanese are interested in diets. Like many dieters in the United States and around the world, many Japanese are looking for a quick way to lose weight. Lifestyle change involving more exercising, better dietary habits and fewer calories appear to be far from the minds and actions of many people interested in losing weight. Instead, people are searching for the magic bullet. Recent years have seen diet fads focusing on bananas, natto, and agar.
The banana diet has been the most recent. Living under a rock, just like Homer Simpson, I didn't realize how pervasive the banana diet fad was until I stopped by at a local supermarket to buy some bananas. They are usually piled high in bunches of five, six, seven, or eight bananas. Instead I was greeted by the sight of a few bunches, each with three bruised and browning bananas wrapped together in plastic wrap. A large sign over these few lonely banana bunches read only one bunch per customer. I bought some apples instead.
The banana diet was based on eating bananas with room water temperature in the morning and whatever you want during the rest of the day. A pharmacist designed the banana diet for her husband. He lost weight and posted the diet information on Mixi, the social networking service. The banana diet boom exploded. Bananas were rocketing off the shelves and prices went up. I ate fewer bananas for a while. Then, banana consumption seemed to decrease. Now I can easily buy bananas.
Before the banana diet fad was the natto diet fad, propelled into fame by appearing on a television. The television show claimed that natto was the magic bullet. Natto, which is fermented bean paste, is very healthy food, but the TV program made even greater claims. Eat two packs of natto, the first in the morning and the second in the evening, and that would be enough. People could lose weight without any other work. Exercise was not necessary, nor were any changes in diet. The claim was this was all made possible by the isoflavones in natto and something else that caused DHEA secretion. Natto sold out at supermarkets all over Japan.
The natto diet began to fade when the true story emerged: the program simply made up the story. The actual science behind the story was fabricated as was the study that the program claimed to have conducted.
Before the truly amazing and incredible natto diet was the truly incredible and amazing agar diet. Agar is a gelatinous substance that comes from seaweed. You can use agar to make jellies, custards and more. Approximately 80% of agar is fiber. If you eat agar, it triples in size and absorbs water. The agar diet simply required eating a dish of jelly made from agar before each meal. The agar diet also came from same television show as the amazing natto diet.
Going back in time before the agar diet or forward in time from the banana diet will certainly produce another amazing diet. Bananas, natto, and agar all offer health benefits, but none was the magic bullet. Still, hope lives on and millions of people still watch television programs about health and diets, waiting for the next grand solution to the world's weight problem. Who knows? A real magic bullet could be just around the corner.
About the Author
Aaron Language Services (http://www.aaronlanguage.com/ ) offers translation, proofreading, and online English coaching to a primarily Japanese client base. We also provide ESL writing coaching via the Internet.
Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Tom-Aaron/45759
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Showing posts with label Bodybuilding News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bodybuilding News. Show all posts
Tips on Running to Lose Weight
June 08, 2010 0 comments
Running is an excellent way to tone the body, increase your metabolism and loose weight. Running to lose weight will help you to produce a cardiovascular workout that improves the function of the heart and strengthens and tones your lower body muscles. As you run your body will naturally shed unwanted pounds. Some people take up running to loose weight as it can burn calories very quickly. This makes sense as a 150 pound person will burn hundreds of calories an hour while running plus the increase in metabolism will help you to burn calories during the day at an increased rate. If you have been thinking about running to reduce your weight there are some things to think about before you get started.
Jogging benefits the body as does all exercise. When you run or exercise you increase your metabolism or processing of food. This will not only help you while you are exercising it can help you through out the day and even while you sleep. When people focus on running to lose weight their main goal is to process food efficiently so that it does not convert to fat. Running is a premium way of doing this. Running offers more cardiovascular help than merely going to the gym and lifting weights. Many people like to run as it is more scenic and interesting that sitting in a gym. Because you choose your running environment you can run in an area that is interesting with plenty of scenery or even run to work.
Some people worry about running to lose weight as it can put stress on the knees and joints. This is more true for those who are overweight than it is for those that are in shape. If you wear quality running shoes you will find that these problems are not really a concern. The cushioning in newer shoes absorbs most of the shock. Besides once you begin running, the muscles, ligaments and bone density will be strengthened to the point of resisting any additional shock. Running is a great way to increase the bodys overall condition not only skeletally but in a cardiovascular condition. One important thing to learn is that if you are going to start running, make sure to get a shoe that will allow you to run without feeling the shock of the road.
Enjoy Running to Lose Weight
Many people who take up running stick with it for years as it is an enjoyable way to exercise and keep in shape. If you are a runner you will have more freedom in eating as you will burn food quickly. You will also be able to sleep better at night. As long as you do not overdo it, you will feel an overall sense of well being as you run from month to month. The body produces an increased amount of endorphins with exercise that create a sense of relaxation and clarity of mind. If you are running to lose weight, plan out your route and get some well cushioned shoes. Running will help you to greatly benefit your health, build muscles and lose unwanted fat. What more could you ask for. Continue reading the article...
Jogging benefits the body as does all exercise. When you run or exercise you increase your metabolism or processing of food. This will not only help you while you are exercising it can help you through out the day and even while you sleep. When people focus on running to lose weight their main goal is to process food efficiently so that it does not convert to fat. Running is a premium way of doing this. Running offers more cardiovascular help than merely going to the gym and lifting weights. Many people like to run as it is more scenic and interesting that sitting in a gym. Because you choose your running environment you can run in an area that is interesting with plenty of scenery or even run to work.
Some people worry about running to lose weight as it can put stress on the knees and joints. This is more true for those who are overweight than it is for those that are in shape. If you wear quality running shoes you will find that these problems are not really a concern. The cushioning in newer shoes absorbs most of the shock. Besides once you begin running, the muscles, ligaments and bone density will be strengthened to the point of resisting any additional shock. Running is a great way to increase the bodys overall condition not only skeletally but in a cardiovascular condition. One important thing to learn is that if you are going to start running, make sure to get a shoe that will allow you to run without feeling the shock of the road.
Enjoy Running to Lose Weight
Many people who take up running stick with it for years as it is an enjoyable way to exercise and keep in shape. If you are a runner you will have more freedom in eating as you will burn food quickly. You will also be able to sleep better at night. As long as you do not overdo it, you will feel an overall sense of well being as you run from month to month. The body produces an increased amount of endorphins with exercise that create a sense of relaxation and clarity of mind. If you are running to lose weight, plan out your route and get some well cushioned shoes. Running will help you to greatly benefit your health, build muscles and lose unwanted fat. What more could you ask for. Continue reading the article...
The Anabolic Evolution of Modern Bodybuilding
September 15, 2009 0 comments
Today, drugs in some professional sports have become mainstream. The hypocrisy of Major League Baseball serves as a wake up call for an American culture that indulges in careless living by risking its health through poor nutrition, alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, etc. Before we can hope to see bodybuilding return to its roots in physical culture, we will first have to witness a 'new way of life' throughout our society.
Since the early days of physical culture, modern man has been searching for the elusive "Fountain of Youth". The promise of radiant health, enduring strength and a Herculean physique has drawn millions on this quest for physical perfection.
Through the early decades of bodybuilding, the forefathers of physical culture established basic guidelines for the muscle enthusiast to follow. Natural foods, resistance training, plenty of rest, and a positive outlook in life were the primary ingredients for achieving ones goals. The demand for knowledge on 'how to' reach the stars would result in millions of booklets being sold by mail order, while magazine stands and bookshelves were continually restocked with the latest 'muscle building secrets'. Tons of steel and exercise equipment would find its way into the homes of thousands of Americans all across our nation. Health clubs and iron gyms would sprout up in local neighborhoods and towns, while physique competitions were held to determine who the best in the land was. The strong roots of physical culture were taking grip in our society, and the mighty oak of bodybuilding would soon branch out through every city in America.
A new 'way of life' became a reality for many as the 'body beautiful' movement swung into high gear. For decades the much traveled road to muscledom kept its promise, then by the mid-60's what seemed pure and natural took a wrong turn setting the course of modern bodybuilding down a dead end. The introduction of anabolic steroids into the sport of bodybuilding would usher in a new era of super sized and equally strong muscular physiques that would attract millions of young men with a desire to achieve the same naturally unattainable goals.
Along with the growth of the sport, the physiques continued to become bigger and more vascular as bodybuilders experimented with 'stacking' the latest in designer muscle enhancing pharmaceuticals. Magazine and ticket sales were at a peak and bodybuilding competitions were seen regularly on network TV. The popularity of the sport was soaring high. Then, what could have been mostly prevented by not promoting and rewarding individuals whose physiques were chemically altered became a reality as the widespread use of drugs in the sport became relevant.
Words such as steroids, cycling, and growth hormones became common place in our gyms, and juicing no longer meant enjoying your favorite health drink. Reports of bodybuilders on dialysis and with heart ailments became a frequent occurrence while the eventual death of several competitive pros hit home hard. What had been a dark cloud in a sport with such great potential turned into a storm that spread its vast shadow on a culture that once shined.
Organizations dedicated to natural bodybuilding and a healthy lifestyle would soon respond to the call for a return to the ideals set forth by the forefathers of physical culture. Physique promoters throughout the land created natural bodybuilding competitions so athletes could compete on a level playing field without running the risk of ruining their health. Publications featuring natural bodybuilders began to spread the gospel of healthy living through proper nutrition and exercise. The televised media developed new bodybuilding and fitness programs to inspire future generations of natural iron pumpers. And as the age of cyber space came upon us, the Internet became a resource of concepts and opinions for bodybuilders to learn and express their views with other physique artist throughout the World. The new millennium is here and those dedicated to physical culture have begun to prevail as the radiant beacon of light from the torch of natural living begins to shine through the storm. Continue reading the article...
Since the early days of physical culture, modern man has been searching for the elusive "Fountain of Youth". The promise of radiant health, enduring strength and a Herculean physique has drawn millions on this quest for physical perfection.
Through the early decades of bodybuilding, the forefathers of physical culture established basic guidelines for the muscle enthusiast to follow. Natural foods, resistance training, plenty of rest, and a positive outlook in life were the primary ingredients for achieving ones goals. The demand for knowledge on 'how to' reach the stars would result in millions of booklets being sold by mail order, while magazine stands and bookshelves were continually restocked with the latest 'muscle building secrets'. Tons of steel and exercise equipment would find its way into the homes of thousands of Americans all across our nation. Health clubs and iron gyms would sprout up in local neighborhoods and towns, while physique competitions were held to determine who the best in the land was. The strong roots of physical culture were taking grip in our society, and the mighty oak of bodybuilding would soon branch out through every city in America.
A new 'way of life' became a reality for many as the 'body beautiful' movement swung into high gear. For decades the much traveled road to muscledom kept its promise, then by the mid-60's what seemed pure and natural took a wrong turn setting the course of modern bodybuilding down a dead end. The introduction of anabolic steroids into the sport of bodybuilding would usher in a new era of super sized and equally strong muscular physiques that would attract millions of young men with a desire to achieve the same naturally unattainable goals.
Along with the growth of the sport, the physiques continued to become bigger and more vascular as bodybuilders experimented with 'stacking' the latest in designer muscle enhancing pharmaceuticals. Magazine and ticket sales were at a peak and bodybuilding competitions were seen regularly on network TV. The popularity of the sport was soaring high. Then, what could have been mostly prevented by not promoting and rewarding individuals whose physiques were chemically altered became a reality as the widespread use of drugs in the sport became relevant.
Words such as steroids, cycling, and growth hormones became common place in our gyms, and juicing no longer meant enjoying your favorite health drink. Reports of bodybuilders on dialysis and with heart ailments became a frequent occurrence while the eventual death of several competitive pros hit home hard. What had been a dark cloud in a sport with such great potential turned into a storm that spread its vast shadow on a culture that once shined.
Organizations dedicated to natural bodybuilding and a healthy lifestyle would soon respond to the call for a return to the ideals set forth by the forefathers of physical culture. Physique promoters throughout the land created natural bodybuilding competitions so athletes could compete on a level playing field without running the risk of ruining their health. Publications featuring natural bodybuilders began to spread the gospel of healthy living through proper nutrition and exercise. The televised media developed new bodybuilding and fitness programs to inspire future generations of natural iron pumpers. And as the age of cyber space came upon us, the Internet became a resource of concepts and opinions for bodybuilders to learn and express their views with other physique artist throughout the World. The new millennium is here and those dedicated to physical culture have begun to prevail as the radiant beacon of light from the torch of natural living begins to shine through the storm. Continue reading the article...
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