Improve your health in a simple way (that’s not diet or exercise)‍

Lessons from an old Japanese proverb

A saying from ancient Japan with lessons

A few days ago, I went to the doctor for my annual physical. I saw a new doctor because I didn't like my previous one (Note: Yes, you should switch doctors if you don't like them! They are offering a service, and you ought to deal with people you trust and who genuinely care about you when it comes to your health.

As she was asking me some standard questions about my way of life, the subject of drinking came up. When I told her that I didn't drink much, she said, "Good!" It's preferable to have less.

It was the first time I had ever heard a medical professional discuss the advantages of having a vibrant social network for one's health.

I frequently hear the standard advice regarding eating a healthy diet, exercising, and limiting meat intake, but seldom regarding social health. Following my consultation, I decided to make her my primary care physician.

There is ample evidence that maintaining a vibrant social life is beneficial to one's physical and mental well-being. In actuality, individuals with the best connections are the happiest and healthiest people on the planet—not necessarily the wealthy and well-known.

The traditional Japanese saying, "Eat alone, even sea bream does not taste delicious," sprang to mind when I saw it.

In Japanese cuisine, sea bream is a celebrated delicacy that is typically regarded as the main course, much like a dry-aged ribeye or a crispy, juicy turkey in American culture.

Even sea bream is not particularly tasty when eaten by itself.

In Japanese cuisine, sea bream is a celebrated delicacy that is typically regarded as the main course, much like a dry-aged ribeye or a crispy, juicy turkey in American culture. But how good could something taste when consumed by itself?

Sharing your meals and snacks with others is a great approach to enhance your health in a straightforward method. Make it a special occasion! We can achieve peace with our wellbeing by prioritizing quality over quantity and by changing the way we relate to food so that it isn't governed by calorie counts or macros.

I mean, isn't that the main goal of being well – to enjoy life?

If you've heard that drinking alcohol is healthy, it's generally due to the social aspects of the habit rather than the alcohol itself. Have a drink with others, but I'm not saying you should."

Sourced from Medium