Adopting A Japanese Diet For Longer Life and Weight Loss

One of the reasons for the Japanese having the longest life expectancy rates is due to their diets. Research shows that Japanese people eat a greater variety of foods than people who adopt Western diets. For example, recent studies indicate that the Japanese eat over 100 different varieties of food per week, while Westerners, on the other hand, eat only about 30 different types of food.

The types of food that Japanese eat also seem to be a significant factor in their life expectancy. Fresh vegetables such as bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, string beans, mushrooms and cabbage form an important part of their diet. And while red meat is not excluded from their diets, it is only eaten in small quantities. By contrast, fish makes up a big part of their diet and is eaten 3 times more than meat.

Additionally, oily fish such as Salmon, Mackerel and Tuna are main staples in their diets. These types of fish contain important nutrients called Omega Fatty Acids which exert a protective influence over the heart and other organs. These nutrients also help to maintain the health of the reproductive organs, brain and eyes. Omega Fatty Acids also help to maintain a strong immune system as well.

Furthermore, Japanese people eat about 40 times more soy products than Westerners. Soy foods contain an abundance of natural occurring substances which are anti-carcinogens and have been proven effective against breast cancer and prostate cancer. Because soy is a low-fat source of protein, studies indicate that soy consumption can help you lose weight and build lean muscle mass.

Japanese people who stick to their traditional diets also drink a lot of green tea. Rich in cancer fighting substances called anti-oxidants, green tea helps the body to naturally burn fat and cause carbohydrates to be released slowly which promotes the burning of fat.

Although Japanese cooking takes a lot of time to prepare, many restaurants and delis now offer pre-packaged Japanese foods on their menu. So, although you may not have time to prepare it yourself at home, pre-packaged Japanese food is an easy option; as is dining in a Japanese restaurant when you choose to eat out.

On a typical day, a Japanese menu may consist of the following: Breakfast: rice and fish or egg with a bowl of Miso soup. Lunch: braised boneless chicken thigh, onion slices and egg with a bowl of chopped mixed salad. Dinner: Stir-fry mixed vegetables, cashews, bean sprouts and steamed rice. Dessert: Japanese waffle stuffed with sweet red beans.

Over-all, the daily calories of a person following a Japanese diet is about 1400 calories and includes a wide variety of fresh food, meat and vegetables. If you are on a diet, following the typical Japanese way of eating should help you to lose about 1 pound per week and help you to maintain a healthy, longer life as well.

About the Author

Patricia has been interested in health and dieting since the early 70's and knows how to seperate diet hype from diet facts. Get The Diet Facts

Related Links:

What is cancer?

Cancer is a class of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell division and the ability of these cells to invade other tissues, either by direct growth into adjacent tissue (invasion) or by migration of cells to distant sites (metastasis). This unregulated growth is caused by a series of acquired or inherited mutations to DNA within cells, damaging genetic information that define the cell functions and removing normal control of cell division. ...
A general term for about 100 diseases characterized by uncontrolled, abnormal growth of cells. The resulting mass, or tumour, can invade and destroy surrounding normal tissues. Cancer cells from the tumour can spread through the blood or lymph (the clear fluid that bathes body cells) to start new cancers in other parts of the body (metastases).
An umbrella term for more than 100 life-threatening diseases characterized by the uncontrolled, abnormal growth of malignant cells. These harmful cells may spread locally or through either the bloodstream or lymphatic system. One of the co morbidities associated with morbid obesity.