Top 3 Health Benefits of Japanese Cuisine

Maintaining a realistic balanced diet can prove exhausting. Keeping up with the latest clean eating trends of Kale, Goji Berries, Acai and Chia can prove hard on the pocket and one’s mental wellness.

Harpooning protein powder alongside the bustle of our busy lives with the help of modern transport, technology and commercialism can prove tough as we watch obesity rates grow drastically. So how did the previous generations do it?

Taking a page out of the Japanese’s book – the world’s leading life expectancy population (according to the World Health Organisation), here are some ways traditional Japanese dietary habits keep you healthy:

• Live moderately: The Japanese tend to have a mindfulness when it comes to diet and wellness. They practise “hara hachi bu”, translating to eat until you are 80% full.Japanese dining is also a noteworthy diet habit. Contrary to the western style of serving one heavy main plate with sides, they utilise a combination of several small dishes with different nutritional notes, shared communally to achieve a balanced intake.

• Live Healthier: The traditional Japanese diet is predominantly untreated, fresh produce with minimal refinery process resulting in a stronger nutrient and fibre intake.  Refined foods make it easier to overeat and are less satisfying than natural foods. They also tend to have higher sugars, calories and lower nutritional value.Japanese cuisine is high in grains and greens, with a proportionate amount of meat and soy. The diet often minimizes the use of dairy and fruit reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, obesity and cardiovascular ailments.  The fish/soy heavy preference in their meals is also a strong contributor to this.

• Live Longer: Japan has the highest number of people to live past the age of 100 years old,as well as the lowest risk of age-related diseases (for example diabetes, cancer, arthritis and Alzheimer’s). This has partly been attributed to their traditional Japanese diet, rich in antioxidants and phytoestrogens, known to help protect against hormone-dependent cancers, such as breast cancer.