9 Health Secrets From Around The World
Experience: 4 yearsJyotsana Rao is an engineering graduate from NIT, Nagpur, who discovered her love for writing during her undergraduate days. She is passionate about writing about everything related to beauty - makeup, fashion, hairstyles, skin care, or hair care and has 4 years of experience on writing in these genres.
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Drink water, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, sleep well, exercise, and do all things in moderation – the usual commandments of health and beauty. Sounds easy, right?
In reality, given our fast-paced lifestyles, it takes some effort to achieve perfect physical and emotional well-being. And we all love to be in the know when it comes to the latest health fad or diet. To help you in your journey, we bring you unique wellness methods from different cultures around the world – from Japan’s power naps to India’s meditation techniques and more.
Read on to know the top 9 practices that people from different parts of the world follow regularly as part of their health regime:
1. Acupuncture From China
Acupuncture originated in China and has been practiced for thousands of years. Today, it is equally popular among Americans. It involves inserting very thin needles throughout the patient’s skin at specific points on the body. According to the Chinese medical theory, these points are located on the meridians through which vital energy flows.
Regular sessions of acupuncture can help lower blood pressure, improve the heart’s health, help to shed pounds, and speed up the production of neurotransmitters that are associated with relaxation and improving the quality of sleep.
[ Recommended Read: 12 Acupressure Points For Sleep ]
2. Muesli From Switzerland
When it comes to choosing your breakfast cereal, muesli is a good option. It’s a fitness food that was invented by a Swiss doctor over a hundred years ago for the patients in his hospital, and is now famous worldwide.
It has lesser calories and sugar than other breakfast cereals, and is high in fiber and whole grains, which help in regulating the digestive system and weight control.
3. Meditation From India
Archeologists discovered the evidence of meditation in the Indus valley in and around 5,000 to 3,500 BCE. As time passed, most of the world’s religions adopted the basic concept of meditation and now, it is believed to be an essential cornerstone of spiritual development worldwide.
Studies show that meditation helps to lower blood pressure, increases the production of serotonin that improves behavior and mood. It also decreases any tension-related pain such as headaches or insomnia, increases the energy level, and strengthens the immune system.
[ Recommended Read: 6 Types Of Meditation Techniques And Their Benefits ]
4. Biking From The Netherlands
Biking is one of the main forms of transportation in the Netherlands. In fact, cycling is considered as a contributing factor to the active lifestyle of its denizens.
Cycling is one of the easiest forms of exercise that helps build stamina, improve cardiovascular fitness, reduce stress, and burn calories.
5. Banya (Or Sauna) From Russia
Banya (a type of sauna) is one of the oldest traditions of Russia. This tradition is several centuries old and is popular even today.
A Russian banya has a special room where a large amount of steam is created with the help of hot air and water. It is believed that in a single sweat session, you can burn up to 300 calories. It also improves the skin, strengthens the immune system, increases blood circulation, and also balances your mood and emotion.
6. Cupping Therapy From Egypt
Cupping therapy is a form of alternative medicine that dates back to the ancient Egyptian and Middle Eastern cultures. It is a process in which cups made of glass, bamboo, or earthenware are placed on the skin to create suction.
The suction of the cups mobilizes the blood flow to promote healing of various ailments including high blood pressure, various skin problems, and other blood disorders.
7. Power Naps From Japan
In many Japanese organizations, power naps – where you can take a 30-minute nap between 1 pm to 4 pm – have become an accepted policy, and with good reason. Research says that these power naps help to maintain a high level of performance and help prevent mistakes, which usually occur when people feel drowsy, especially after lunch.
A short nap helps to restore energy, improves focus, and helps you get back to work feeling fresh and rejuvenated.
8. The Mediterranean Diet From Greece
Food plays a large role in contributing to one’s longevity. The Mediterranean diet that focuses solely on fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fat, poultry, and fish has been linked to lower the risk of heart diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, obesity, and cancer.
The good thing is eating like a Greek is not only healthy but is delicious too!
[ Recommended Read: The Ultimate Mediterranean Diet Plan For Weight Loss ]
9. Mate Tea From South America
Mate tea is officially declared as the national drink of Argentina.
Mate tea is an infusion that is made by steeping the dried leaves of yerba mate (naturally caffeinated and nourishing leaves of the South American rainforest holly tree) in boiling water. Brewed and served hot, it is strong and slightly bitter in taste. Drinking mate tea helps to increase metabolism, improve digestion, and maintain cardiovascular health. It’s an energy-boosting beverage that helps in maintaining overall health of the body.
Hope you enjoyed reading about these interesting health secrets from around the world. Do you know of any other health secrets? Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below.
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