Best Kept Health Secrets from the Far East

Thousands of years before modern ‘western’ medicine, the civilizations of the Far East began developing natural health and medicinal practices.

Today, billions of people still use these health ‘secrets’ to live long and fulfilling lives. At Goodnick, we’ve done our research and uncovered these hidden healthy habits that you can use to add a touch on Eastern magic to your daily routine...

1. Drink Lots of Tea

“This is easy!”, you might say.

People in the Far East are far less likely to drink coffee. They would much rather stay hydrated and nourished with hot tea. However, we’re not talking your usual PG or Yorkshire blend…

In places like China and Japan, you’re likely to be offered green, matcha or oolong tea. In fact, green tea is so popular that they even have green tea flavoured crisps!

It’s not just the tea that gives the benefit, but also the temperature. Believe it or not, drinking cold water seems very funny to most individuals from the Far East, and they would usually opt for a hot beverage instead.

Warm water helps relieve congestion, detoxifies the body, and naturally relieves joint pain. According to ancient Chinese medicine, drinking warm water in the morning also activates the digestive system and stimulates blood flow.

Studies show that tea itself also has tremendous health benefits. Those who drink one cup of green tea reduce the risk of stroke by as much as 35%! It also helps with weight loss, protects bones, boosts the immune system, and promotes heart health. So put the kettle on and gānbēi! (that's "drink up" in Mandarin).

2. Food is your Medicine

In the Far East, there is a desire to steer clear from tablets and supplements if possible. People would much prefer to get their vitamins and minerals from their food.

In Japan, there is a phrase, nuchi gusui, which can be translated as ‘let food be your medicine.’

This means plenty of fruit and vegetables with lots of fish. From sushi to dried fish bones, the diets of the Far East are rich in seafood, and it can do wonders for your mind and body.

Seafood is packed with goodness. Fish and shellfish also contain omega-3 fatty acids, a major building block of the brain that promotes heart health balances hormones and reduces depression.

The Japanese put a lot of emphasis on healthy diet choices like eating fresh and seasonal food and staying away from chemicals and preservatives.

When it comes to meat, Easterners also believe in eating the whole animal, nose to tail. Although this sounds slightly cringeworthy, consuming the entire animal is a great way to get extra vitamins and magnesium. Just don’t expect to see pig’s ears or chicken feet in our GoodFOOD recipes any time soon!

3. Steer Clear of The Sun

Anyone from the East would get a shock to see their friends from the UK sunbathing for hours…

…and not just because it’s autumn! (But when has that ever stopped the Brits..?)

Really, it’s because Asian cultures tend to stay in the shade whenever possible. UV rays from the sun can cause dehydration, sunburn, and skin cancer.

And who said umbrellas were only for the rain? If you come from the Far East, you may use one to shade yourself from the heat and stay out of the sun.

4. Start the day with exercise

When you want to start the day off on the right foot, take a lead from the Japanese and exercise. Every morning, the Japanese traditionally participate in rajio taiso (radio exercise). This all began over 70 years ago when Emperor Hirohito started hosting a country-wide exercise broadcast to improve the health of Japanese soldiers.

In China, if you walk through a city or park you are bound to come across groups of people practicing Tai Chi, a low-impact, slow-paced form of martial arts. The activity involves balancing someone’s “Qi”, or internal life force, through movement and meditation.

Thankfully, you don’t have to fly all the way to the Far East to get your daily exercise, because, at Goodnick, we’ve got everything you need!

We believe that living with purpose helps you feel great, stay in shape and get more satisfaction out of every day. The Japanese call this ikigai, but we call it…

Living the GoodLIFE!