JWH Author's Voice: What's the true meaning of well-being?

I'm fanatically health conscious. I've been keeping track of all my food intake and workout routines for the last four years. Even during the busy morning, I squeeze out five minutes to do my routine workout. I found a secret recipe for continuing this routine workout; I dial 117. Can you imagine what 117 gives us here in Japan? It's a 'time tone.' I do push-ups, squats, sit-ups, etc., along with the tone that comes out from the speaker. I'm considering purchasing a metronome instead, but the time tone gives me an idea of when I should pack things up and run to catch the train, so I like this style so far. After I hop on the train, the moderate muscle fatigue gives me a tremendous sense of self-complacent pleasure. 'I wanna be a superman' I daydream as I gaze out at the view through the train window. Yes, I know I may sound pretty narcissistic, but I can't help it. I also monitor my weight with a chart. I murmur 'Yes' as I finish all my routines at the end of the day, just as I imagine the Japanese train conductors do at the end of their workday.

Such a fanatically health-conscious guy like me had an eye-opening experience recently.

Dr. Akiko Sugahara, who presides over Sugahara Institute, provides all sorts of valuable health related information based on her studies in the field of nutrition and recipe development. Her messages are valuable because she explains what we need to keep in mind in order to manage stress and stay healthy in this fast-paced 21st century. To tell the truth, I was a bit nervous to meet her at first, since I don't have a background in this field. However, I soon found out she is hospitable and a good speaker, so I ended up learning not only about healthy dieting, but also how to live and enjoy our lives to the fullest. I'd love to share with our readers some of what Dr. Sugahara told me during the interview.

The "Do-not-eat-this-and-that" style of eating is totally nonsense. I call it 'fear imprinting nutritional education'. We human beings have survived over the last couple of million years by eating anything, and have continued to evolve.

Gulping down certain types of nutritional products and supplements won't make us become healthy. Five basic nutritional components - protein, fat, carbs, vitamins, and minerals - need to be taken in balance. Otherwise, our bodies won't absorb the necessary nutritional elements properly.

Besides taking control over what we eat, our state of mind during meals makes a big difference. Having a pleasant conversation with your family and close friends will enhance your health and immune system. However, it seems we've been swallowed up by the fast-pased, efficiency-driven society in the last couple of decades. In consequence, many children and adults have lost their emotional balance and tend to lose their temper easily.

Just putting our hands together in prayer before eating stablizes both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve. We should realize that the act of eating means not only taking in food, but also healing and recharging our spiritual energy. Mom's hand-made meals radiate love, and the message that comes from that will surely get through to the kids.

We might have achieved economic prosperity after surviving the war and the period of hunger, but now it's high time to ask ourselves what the true meaning of happiness and affluence is. Perhaps we may have had it once in the old days, but it has fallen apart. The pleasant meals and family ties should be looked at again in a new light. It's my job to send these messages as a scientist.

What a simple yet strong message she has! I think I was trying to "fight" my way to good health, but her message nearly enlightened me to find the true meaning of well-being instead of being an exercise fanatic.


Koji Chikatani, Senior Agent
Japanese Writers' House