HEALTH TIP # 19

The latest in our series of easy ways to stay healthy
Quality not quantity: For the second week in a row, this issue's health tip originated on the Japanese island of Okinawa whose residents are known for being the world's healthiest and longest-lived people: They have the lowest rates of heart disease, stroke and cancer in the world, and the highest percentage of people living over 100.
As mentioned last week, the Okinawans believe that a varied diet is the basis of good health. They also believe strongly in eating in moderation and have an interesting way to prevent overeating - hara hachi bu, which means eating only until you feel 80 percent full.
There's a scientific rationale for their method: It takes 20 minutes for your brain to receive signals from the stomach that it's full. By stopping before you’re full, the brain has a chance to catch up, and you're less likely to overeat and stretch your stomach. In Okinawa, people also eat small portions of each food, making it easier to fit in a wide variety of foods and harder to overeat.
(Source: Self-Healing Newsletter, www.drweilselfhealing.com)