After shouting 'Mala Tanghulu'... "I don't want to get old." What is the diet that has caused the 2030 generation to suddenly change?

 

Slow aging is a hot topic these days.

My junior colleagues at work are also worried about slow aging, so they are controlling their diets and exercising.

Even more than me, they diligently check their blood sugar after meals...

 

I really like mixed grain rice more than white rice.

I'm trying to eat as many vegetables as possible these days.

 

The food really does get heavy during the holidays... I really need to exercise. Haha.

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The salty, sweet, and greasy foods consumed during the Chuseok holiday accelerate our body's internal clock. They disrupt skin balance, cause blood sugar spikes, and lead to the accumulation of visceral fat. Now that you have returned to your daily routine, why not try recovering your body with a "slow-aging" diet free of stimulating foods?

 

Recently, a "slow-aging" diet designed to slow down the body's aging process has been gaining attention, particularly among the MZ (Millennial + Gen Z) generation. This diet restricts the consumption of ultra-processed foods such as fried foods, butter, and desserts, as well as simple sugars, refined grains, and red meat. Slow-aging, as the name suggests, involves slowing down the rate of physical aging through improved dietary habits; it became popular after Professor Hee-Won Jeong of the Department of Geriatric Medicine at Asan Medical Center introduced the diet. Professor Jeong claims that a slow-aging diet can extend lifespan by up to 10 years. Even the younger generation, accustomed to high-calorie, highly stimulating foods that are spicy, salty, and sweet—such as "mala tanghulu" and "yoajeong" (yogurt ice cream)—is showing a positive response to this healthy diet that reduces the aging process by a quarter.

 

Holiday foods are typically high-calorie and greasy, such as jeon (pancakes), fried foods, and japchae (stir-fried glass noodles). Consuming large amounts of greasy food can cause unused cholesterol to accumulate on the walls of blood vessels, potentially blocking them. Since these foods lead to the accumulation of visceral fat in the abdomen, they can increase free radicals, which accelerate aging. If you are already obese, you should refrain from eating greasy foods, as the aging of visceral fat cells can occur rapidly. Since salty and sweet foods cause an imbalance of oil and moisture in the skin and damage collagen to induce aging, if you have consumed a lot of these foods during the holidays, you should maintain a clean diet to allow your body time to recover.

 

While Koreans rely on the "power of rice," white rice should be consumed in moderation. The rice recommended for a slow-aging diet consists of a mixture of oats, brown rice, white rice, and lentils in a 2:2:2:4 ratio. Oats are a "super grain" rich in essential amino acids, Vitamin B, and Vitamin E, and contain 2.8 times more plant-based protein than white rice. The beta-glucan found in oats lowers cholesterol levels in the body, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Brown rice, a popular choice for dieting, contains essential nutrients such as vitamins and magnesium and is beneficial for blood sugar control. Lentils are also rich in nutrients, including protein and minerals.

 

Protein intake is also essential, so it is best to consume a balanced variety of foods at every meal, including chicken, fish such as mackerel and salmon, tofu, and chickpeas. Of course, while red meats like beef and pork are also high in protein, they should be consumed in moderation due to the high amount of saturated fat that raises cholesterol levels. When eating, it is advisable to follow a dietary order: consume fiber-rich foods like vegetables first, followed by protein such as meat and fish, and finally carbohydrates like rice. Eating vegetables first causes blood sugar to rise slowly, preventing blood sugar spikes and allowing for a longer-lasting feeling of fullness.