Practice Hara Hachi Bu

It sounds like a magic spell, but it’s not. Or maybe it is……

Okinawas say Hara Hachi Bu at the beginning of each meal as a reminder to stop eating when their stomachs are 80 percent full. This cultural practice of calorie restriction and mindful eating might well be the reason why Okinawa is one of the world’s exceptional hot spots where people live extraordinarily long and healthy lives.

Tip for today:
With the holiday dinners approaching, practice Hara Hachi Bu.

You should not be afraid that you will still be hungry. It always takes a little longer until your brain tells you that you’ve eaten enough.

In any case, Thanks to hara hachi bu, this year you will not finish your Christmas dinner with an overfull, tense stomach.

How to Put Hara Hachi Bu  into Practice

Simple changes in everyday eating habits can help put the secret of hara hachi bu into practice for improved health and for weight loss.

Anyone can make changes to their eating patterns or environment, enjoy food, and learn to eat only until they are 80 percent full.  Get started with these easy tips.

• Eat more slowly. Eating faster results in eating more. Slow down to allow your body to respond to cues, which tell us we are no longer hungry.
• Focus on food. Turn off the TV and the computer.  If you’re going to eat, just eat. You’ll eat more slowly, consume less and savor the food more.
• Use small vessels. Choose to eat on smaller plates and use tall, narrow glasses. You’re likely to eat significantly less without even thinking about it.