Elements
  • Bazaar
    • Gift Guides
    • Style
    • Wares
  • World Culture
    • Cross Cultural
    • History
    • Language
    • Wisdom
  • People
  • Art
    • The Arts
    • Crafts
    • Iconography
  • Food
    • Cuisine
    • Ingredients
  • Shop >>
outdoor living
Cross Cultural ,  World Culture

5 Healthy Habits from Around the World

When it comes to wellness, there are all sorts of ways to get healthy and find personal balance. And it never hurts to take a cue from other countries and cultures. Here are five lifestyle habits from around the world that will do your body and mind some good.

Take Baths – Japan

take a bath

Japan has a thriving spa culture. It’s common for people to regularly gather and soak in public baths and onsens (Japanese hot springs). These are occasions to unwind, but also to spend quality time with others. While you may be too shy to hit up a spa, you might benefit from turning on the tub faucet and having a good soak. Hot baths can help ease muscle pain, improve blood pressure, and can even burn calories.

Go Outside – Norway

outdoor living

Norway and surrounding countries embrace a philosophy known as friluftsliv, which translates to “open-air living.” Friluftsliv is the art of going outside and immersing yourself in nature. It can include riding your bike, taking a long hike, or having a picnic. Friluftsliv is so vital to Norway’s culture that people go outside even during the coldest times of the year. We’d do well to embrace friluftsliv, as outdoor activity helps lower stress levels, boost happiness, and boost Vitamin D levels.

Take Breaks – Sweden

take a coffee break

Visit Sweden and you’ll likely hear the term fika more than once. A fika is a coffee break, but it’s much more than heading to the office kitchen. In Sweden, a fika is a chance to take a walk and gather with friends at the local coffee shop. Some Swedish firms even have mandatory fika breaks, and for good reason: taking breaks has been linked to higher productivity, reduced fatigue, and improved memory.

Eat Spicy Foods – India

spicy indian food

Indian food is infamous for its delightful flavors, which no doubt come from the all the wonderful spices they use. But spices don’t just taste good, they also have a variety of health benefits. Cinnamon, cardamom, and turmeric all lower help inflammation, while cumin is rich in iron. Ginger helps with stomach issues and chili peppers can help boost metabolism.

Savor Small Portions – France

French food

French food is notoriously rich, and yet France has lower rates of obesity and cardiovascular issues than the US. This is because French food culture favors much smaller portions, relishing quality over quantity. One study compared Philadelphia portions to Paris portions and found Philadelphia’s helpings were 25% bigger! Turns out less is more when it comes to health.

Share:
Preview Post

What Is The Rosetta Stone?

kisii soapstone
Next Post

What is African Kisii Soapstone?

Leave a Comment

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

You may also like

post-image
Art ,  Crafts ,  History ,  World Culture

Tagua Nut: Vegetable Ivory Of South America

post-image
Art ,  Crafts ,  World Culture

What is Kuba Cloth?

post-image
Crafts ,  World Culture

Block Printing From Rajasthan

post-image
History ,  World Culture

The Extravagance of Indian Weddings

Subscribe

Cultural Elements Store

Cultural Elements
  • Most Views
  • Recent Posts

The History and Meaning of Dreamcatchers

How To Use A Tetsubin (Japanese Kettle)

What Is An Inukshuk?

Indian Culture Q&A

May 11, 2020
Kaftan

The History of the Kaftan

Apr 27, 2020

All About Olive Wood

Feb 28, 2020

About Cultural Elements

At Cultural Elements, we believe that richest sources for style and visual inspiration come from artisan hands all over the world.

Subscribe

One Email a week, that’s it!

The Good Stuff

About Us

Contact Us

 

Connect With Us

Collections

Jewelry 

Home

Apparel

Gifts

 

All Content ©2020 culturalelements.com. All rights reserved.