First of all, let me clear this huge misconception: Not all Koreans are thin.
On average, Koreans have a smaller body and narrower bone structure than the average Europeans and Africans and this gives the illusion of a leaner body (even if their fat distributions are the same). Besides, there are many Koreans who are overweight or obese. And, since appearance is very important in Korea, people are very conscious about their looks and are always trying hard to look good and fit.
Another question people –mostly Hallyu fans – ask is how come Koreans eat so much and still do not gain any weight. Well, it’s true that they eat a lot but compared to American food, Korean meals are much different, special and healthier.
So, if you want to know the secrets behind how Koreans –be they middle-aged people or young teens –stay fit and healthy, have a look below!
No Eating After 6 P.M.
Health experts have often explained the benefits of not eating at night. While some have strongly recommended eating before 8 p.m. or 7 p.m., Koreans abide by the “no eating after 6” rule.
For example, Bae Suzy is a famous South Korean singer, model and actress who was nicknamed as “The Nation’s First Love.” However, when she debuted in the Korean entertainment industry, she was criticized for her “chubby” appearance. Since then, the star found different ways to lose weight and an important element of the intense diet that she went through includes not eating after six. She followed a diet meal plan called the “Time Limit” diet. For breakfast, she would eat only a slick of chicken breast and one sweet potato while she ate brown rice and a salad for lunch.
A Glass of Water Before Food
Water is crucial for good health.
I’m sure we’ve all heard how drinking water during meals can hamper your digestion process or how one should only drink water after a meal so that it can help your body break down and process food. But, can we drink water before a meal?
Before eating, Koreans like to drink a glass of water and wait for it to “settle.” According to them, this routine can help them to curb any impulsive eating and remind them to make healthy choices in the foods they consume.
This is a very easy diet tip that has some research backing it up. For instance, a 2010 study found that adults who drank two cups of water before a meal ate less at the meal and lost more weight over 12 weeks compared to the other group who didn’t drink water before eating.
Another bonus of drinking water before eating?
Moon Chae Won, a South Korean actress who follows this diet tip says how she’s got a more radiant skin ever since she started drinking up water before each meal.
Replace Rice With Sweet Potato
I’m an Indian and rice is an integral part of my diet.
There are many rice-eating nations and there are many people out there who can get actual physical headaches if they don’t consume their regular rice meals.
However, due to its high starch content, rice can easily lead to weight gain, especially if you eat it on a daily basis and never exercise.
That being said, if you want to adapt to a diet devoid of rice, I would suggest sweet potato. Besides the above tips, Koreans remain fit by reducing their intake of rice and by swapping it with sweet potatoes.
SECRET is a K-Pop girl band that goes for a high-protein and low-carbohydrate diet. Hence, their meals consist mainly of fish, tofu, milk and sweet potatoes.
