The delicious food couldn't stop me from traveling to Japan, and a weight loss doctor gained 2 kg in 5 days! Be careful of the three hidden minefields in your diet

With the arrival of the summer travel peak season and the depreciation of the Japanese yen, Japan has become the preferred overseas destination for many Chinese people. However, one should be careful about overeating and drinking while abroad, as there is still a potential risk of obesity. Weight loss specialist and dermatologist Dr. Wu Minghong shared that he and his wife recently went on a 5-day, 4-night trip to Tokyo, Japan. Despite walking 20,000 steps a day, he still gained 2 kilograms after returning home!

Dr. Wu Ming-hong said that during this trip he mainly relied on walking and public transportation, taking more than 20,000 steps a day. Although the schedule was tight and I only had two meals a day with snacks in between, I found that I had gained 2 kilograms when I returned home. Why do I still gain weight even though I eat in moderation? It turns out that the problem lies in "insufficient intake of vegetables and protein, and excessive carbohydrates" in the diet when traveling abroad.

Be careful of the three hidden minefields in your diet

1. Excessive starch: Food is mainly starch. Such as ramen, rice bowl, udon noodles, "sometimes a bowl of noodles will also come with a bowl of rice."

2. High in oil and salt: such as heavily salty miso soup, fat-rich wagyu beef, and various fried foods.

3. Sugar content is off the charts: tempting desserts and drinks. Such as high-sugar plum wine and ice cream.

Dr. Wu Ming-hong explained that refined starch is a high glycemic index (GI) food, which can easily cause blood sugar to rise rapidly, so that a large amount of insulin must be secreted to lower blood sugar, and "the feeling of fullness comes quickly and goes quickly"; and high-sugar foods will constantly stimulate the release of dopamine and increase the desire to eat, "the more you eat, the more you want to eat", and you will unknowingly consume too much.

Dr. Wu Ming-hung said with a smile that people do not need to worry too much about their weight soaring while tasting delicious food while traveling abroad, which would affect their vacation mood. "It's okay to indulge yourself during travel." Obesity is mainly related to long-term eating habits. He cited his own experience as an example. After returning to Taiwan, he lost 1 kilogram in a week by eating the 211 plate diet.

For travelers who prefer Japanese cuisine, it is recommended to increase the intake of vegetables and protein and maintain a balanced diet so that they can satisfy their appetite while taking care of their health.

Dr. Wu Minghong pointed out that in the journal "Gerontolog", the traditional Japanese diet, the Mediterranean diet, and the Nordic diet are all considered healthy diets. According to journal data, although the traditional Japanese diet still uses rice as the main source of carbohydrates, it is paired with a rich variety of seasonal vegetables, fish, soybeans and seaweed, and the overall fat intake is even lower than the Mediterranean diet.

Dr. Wu Ming-hong said that most Japanese residents cook at home, so the proportion of protein and vegetables in their diet is naturally high, and the seasoning is relatively light. For travelers who prefer Japanese cuisine, it is recommended to increase the intake of green vegetables and protein and maintain a balanced diet so that they can satisfy their appetite while taking care of their health.