You may have heard that the Japanese diet is one of the healthiest ways to eat. It's actually not as healthy as you might think, once you consider it closely. There are some flaws to the modern Japanese way of eating that can actually be detrimental to your health.
Since we want to maximize your health, here are a few things to consider before you embark on a Japanese or Asian diet.
The Japanese diet is extremely high in carbohydrates. This is an immediate and obvious problem, if you think about it.
Consider how frequently the Japanese eat white rice and noodles. Often, these items are eaten at all three meals. For many people, eating this amount of carbs can cause blood sugars to increase and can pack on the pounds.
In some regions of Japan, there is also an issue with low fiber intake. With the carbs (rice, noodles) in most Japanese meals, and the protein that accompanies this (generally fish, chicken or beef), you also should be eating high fiber fruits and vegetables. If you don't, it can negatively impact your digestive health.
The Japanese today also take some bad habits from other cuisines. The influence of Italian and French cuisines can be seen in the popularity of pizza and pasta and baked goods. These aren't any healthier in the Japanese diet than they are as a component of any other eating regimen.
You may be wondering how the Japanese seem so healthy if they eat so badly. The short answer is: they eat a perfectly fine diet - given their metabolic and genetic makeup. The Japanese essentially have a better metabolism for efficiently processing carbohydrates. They don't seem to have the blood sugar fluctuations and overweight tendencies that Western people would when eating a similar diet. This is why you can't just copy a Japanese diet and expect to be slim and healthy as many of the Japanese are.
Instead of modeling the Japanese diet completely, why not pick and choose? Take the healthiest bits and incorporate those into a balanced overall eating plan. For instance, start including more fish in your diet - fish is a staple in Japan. You might also consider using sea vegetables and seaweed. These foods, often overlooked by Westerners, are very good for you and are packed with nutrients.
Since we want to maximize your health, here are a few things to consider before you embark on a Japanese or Asian diet.
The Japanese diet is extremely high in carbohydrates. This is an immediate and obvious problem, if you think about it.
Consider how frequently the Japanese eat white rice and noodles. Often, these items are eaten at all three meals. For many people, eating this amount of carbs can cause blood sugars to increase and can pack on the pounds.
In some regions of Japan, there is also an issue with low fiber intake. With the carbs (rice, noodles) in most Japanese meals, and the protein that accompanies this (generally fish, chicken or beef), you also should be eating high fiber fruits and vegetables. If you don't, it can negatively impact your digestive health.
The Japanese today also take some bad habits from other cuisines. The influence of Italian and French cuisines can be seen in the popularity of pizza and pasta and baked goods. These aren't any healthier in the Japanese diet than they are as a component of any other eating regimen.
You may be wondering how the Japanese seem so healthy if they eat so badly. The short answer is: they eat a perfectly fine diet - given their metabolic and genetic makeup. The Japanese essentially have a better metabolism for efficiently processing carbohydrates. They don't seem to have the blood sugar fluctuations and overweight tendencies that Western people would when eating a similar diet. This is why you can't just copy a Japanese diet and expect to be slim and healthy as many of the Japanese are.
Instead of modeling the Japanese diet completely, why not pick and choose? Take the healthiest bits and incorporate those into a balanced overall eating plan. For instance, start including more fish in your diet - fish is a staple in Japan. You might also consider using sea vegetables and seaweed. These foods, often overlooked by Westerners, are very good for you and are packed with nutrients.
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