Along with diet, there are many other things you can do to boost your immune system. In The Ikigai Diet, I introduced exercises, mentality, and Satoyama living as these measures, and Satoyama cycling, country cycling, is one of the best ways since it is a combination of exercise and Satoyama living. I often do it and it helps me strengthen my immune system because I am surrounded by nature and I feel it has the same effect as Shinrinyoku, forest bathing.
You can stop and look at these beautiful flowers from time to time. You can hear the sound of birds. You absorb vitamin D from sunlight.
The difference between Satoyama cycling and regular cycling is that you don’t cycle on the main road, you cycle on farmers’ road or a road that has very little traffic. Unlike Europe, we don’t have cycling roads developed in Japan and when you go cycling it means you share the roads with other cars. In the countryside, often you can find roads by rice paddies just wide enough for a farmer’s light truck. They are built for farmers to bring their tractors to the rice fields, and other cars are not allowed to enter. It is a perfect place to ride our bikes, and it feels like we are cycling on cycling roads.
And it is a good bonding time with my son.
We usually do it when we go grocery shopping. The great thing about living in Satoyama is that you can incorporate Satoyama cycling into your routine.
The Ikigai Diet: The Secret Japanese Diet to Health and Longevity
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