Reference; https://mbp-japan.com/jijico/articles/32380/
Modified and translated by CFJA
Table of Contents
Sit Down and Chew Slowly When You Eat
During Japan’s rapid economic growth in the 1960s (the Showa 40s era), standing-only eateries began to appear one after another. Even today, standing soba noodle shops are common in train stations. This style of eating reflects the Japanese tendency to prioritize efficiency and speed, even during meals.
In recent years, standing bars and restaurants have also gained popularity, but one may wonder whether they are truly suitable for long, relaxing meals—though that may not be the restaurant owners’ intent.
In the past, children in Japan were taught, “It’s bad manners to eat while standing. Sit down and eat properly.” The word shitsuke (discipline or etiquette) in Japanese literally means “a beautiful body” and implies a lifestyle that supports healthy bodily function.
When you eat standing up, the stomach tends to drop downward, making digestion take longer. In contrast, when seated, the pelvis is stabilized, and internal organs are kept in proper alignment, promoting smoother digestive activity.
Eating while standing, too quickly, or in large quantities draws a large volume of blood to the stomach, reducing blood flow to the brain. This can make you feel drowsy and impair cognitive function after meals.
Digestion also places a burden on organs such as the liver, kidneys, heart, lungs, spleen, pancreas, and of course, the stomach and intestines.
Prolonged digestive strain can lead to chronic fatigue of internal organs. If such eating habits continue for over a decade, they may gradually pave the way toward Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).
Dementia is more likely to occur in individuals with conditions such as diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia, and hypertension.
Although physical aging begins as early as one’s 20s, dementia is most commonly diagnosed in people over 60, but early signs can appear as early as in one’s 40s.
The age group from their 20s to 50s is also most prone to habits like eating late at night, drinking alcohol, and sleep deprivation.
Dementia should not be dismissed as someone else’s problem. Health management from a young age is essential.
The lifestyle choices made in your 40s and 50s have a profound impact on the rest of your life.
Diseases Caused by Lifestyle Habits Often Emerge 23 to 27 Years Later
After conducting medical interviews focused on lifestyle habits for over 40 years, we have observed a clear correlation between the timing of disease onset and long-term lifestyle patterns.
In the case of internal medicine and acute symptoms, the cause is often found in the patient’s daily habits on the same day or the day before. More significantly, however, the preceding two weeks usually play a critical role.
If no cause is found during that period, we typically broaden the scope to the past three months, during which a cause is almost always identifiable.
For chronic conditions, we often find correlations with habits from approximately 1 year, 3 years, 7 years, 13 years, or even 17 years ago.
Detailed interviews tend to reveal that these timeframes are strongly associated with the onset of disease.
However, when it comes to unconscious or unnoticed habits, it is not uncommon for symptoms to manifest 23 to 27 years later.
Dementia is one notable example of such a condition.
From another perspective, a person who has remained symptom-free and healthy for over 30 years may either have a lifestyle truly well-suited to their body, or they may simply be inherently robust.
Modern-day lifestyle diseases are frequently the result of conveniences brought on by a technologically advanced society. Examples include:
- Sleep disorders caused by sleep deprivation and fast eating
- Lack of physical activity
- Late-night bathing or early morning bathing in cold weather
- Excessive fluid intake at night
- Long-term or inappropriate use of medications
Ironically, habits believed to be healthy often turn out to be counterproductive.
If you begin to notice concerning symptoms, it is strongly recommended that you re-evaluate your lifestyle or consult a medical specialist.
In particular, we urge people to reconsider long-term reliance on medications, which may also be contributing to health deterioration over time.