In the World
17
The Environment1
A main component of the Yamagishi movement, Toyosato, a sustainable farming cooperative, is home to 550 residents. Started by ten families in 1969, Toyosato is now one of the main farming corporations in Japan. Toyosato also attempts to make the neighboring area more sustainable. The cooperative donates compost to neighboring farms and also uses factory byproducts from soy sauce and tofu production as livestock feed. Since 1960, the Yamagishi movement has created30 villages.
Healthy Living Around the World
Put Meat on the Back Burner (Greece and Asia)
In contrast with the steak-and-potatoes fare that characterizes the U.S. diet, the dominant paradigm in Mediterranean countries, such as Greece, is less meat-intensive. Heart-healthy olive oil;
vegetables like artichokes, spinach, eggplant, onions, and tomatoes; and proteins such as chickpeas and nuts form the building blocks of daily meals, whereas meat is treated as a supplementary item, not the main event-stuffed inside grape leaves with rice to make dolmas, for example.
Similarly, in Asian countries, meat is viewed as a garnish, rather than as the focal point of a meal; Asian diners get their protein from fish and soy, and load up on vegetables, rice, noodles, and soup to satisfy their hunger.
Drink Rooibos Tea (South Africa)
Naturally sweet and even more full-flavored than green tea, rooibos may prevent overeating by keeping drinkers well hydrated (what people often perceive as hunger pangs are actually just signs of dehydration) and contains catechins, antioxidant compounds found to help promote exercise-induced abdominal fat loss. Many tea-drinking cultures are known to have lower rates of obesity than the United States, but we're finally catching on-rooibos tea is now available at Starbucks.
Eat Slowly and Enjoy Yourself (France)
A mere 28 percent of American families eat together each night, compared with 92 percent of French families. Taking time to relish one another's company over a nutritious, drawn-out meal is good for both the soul and the body: not only will you bond with your loved ones, but you'll also experience fullness earlier and therefore consume fewer calories. Make dinnertime a family affair to look forward to-not just something you squeeze in between work and TV
Have some family time
Research findings published in the journal Plos Medicine have indicated that having strong ties to family and friends can help you live longer, which may be one reason for the renowned good health of Italians, who are known for their close-knit families. A survey of people in 11 different countries – including the US, UK and Australia – also revealed that Brazilians spent the most time with their families (an average of 74 hours per week) and had one of the lowest stress levels. So, take a leaf out of their book and schedule in some family time to give your health a boost.
Toyosato, a Yamagishi Village (Mie Prefecture, Japan)