Whaddya know. The bogus idea of chewing food 30 times (at least) also originated (or rather was popularized) in Japan.<p>This sort of falls into the same bucket.<p>This was originated by American diet reformer Horace Fletcher in the early 1900&#x27;s.<p>See here, e.g.:<p><a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.upi.com&#x2F;Health_News&#x2F;2009&#x2F;10&#x2F;31&#x2F;Japan-govt-Chew-food-30-times&#x2F;47381257015651&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.upi.com&#x2F;Health_News&#x2F;2009&#x2F;10&#x2F;31&#x2F;Japan-govt-Chew-fo...</a>