The Traditional Japanese Diet

How to live longer and look younger by eating the Traditional Japanese Diet.

10 Traditional Japanese foods that will make you healthier.

Research shows that the locals enjoy one of the longest life-spans in the world, with much lower rates of heart disease, osteoporosis, and cancer than in the US.
Japanese men live to be 78 years old on average, and the Japanese woman reach 85. How do they do it?

Another thing you'll notice during your time in Tokyo is how much younger everyone looks comparing to their age group in western countries.

Even Victoria Beckham confessed in a recent interview that her fabulous figure is a result of the Traditional Japanese Diet "I eat really healthy, I love Japanese food, lots of fish, any sort of fish, any sort of vegetable, lots of fruit, that kind of thing".

After experiencing the Food in Tokyo myself for years, I have a list of tips for you on how to live longer and look younger on the Japanese Diet food.

Secrets Of The Typical Japanese Diet Revealed

1. The first secret of the Traditional Japanese Diet is eating only until 80% full.




2. The traditional Japanese foods are always presented in a very attractive way. They are usually served in beautiful dishes.

   
   

3. Even lunch boxes (bento) are an art form in Japan. There is a subtle competition going on between mothers as to who makes the most beautiful bento for her child, going into crazy things like cutting the vegetables in Hello Kitty shapes.
   Lovely bento boxes containing decorated food such as prawns, rice rolled in seaweed, fish and pieces of fruit are sold in every store.




4. Rice is the main food in Japan, consumed with every Traditional Japanese meal, but the Japanese meals are based not on rice but on fish, which is consumed at almost half a pound a day per person. Usually there are two fish courses at every meal, one of cold fish and one of hot. Eating fish instead of red meat is believed to lower the risk of heart attacks. When beef and chicken are included in the meal they are served in small portions.

The Japanese women also consider eating fish's skin as contributing to a healthy complexion. I must agree – most of them do have incredible skin !!




5. Dairy and bread ARE NOT part of the Traditional Japanese Diet!! They hardly eat any white flour. Japanese noodles are made from buckwheat flour. A small bowl of rice is eaten at every Traditional Japanese meal.




6. Soy beans are eaten in many forms - tofu, and fermented soy foods such as Miso soup, Tempeh and Natto . Natto has such a strong smell that restaurants serving it have separate sections so that non-Natto eaters can be spared the scent. Soy products help reduce heart disease and high blood pressure and are a great source of protein.




7. The Japanese don't like sugary desserts.
   The Japanese desserts have a very subtle sweet taste, which comes from pounded rice (mochi) and sweet bean paste, mashed sweet potatoes and chestnuts. These may sound a bit dull to the western ear but believe me – the Japanese desserts are wonderful !!




8. A food which is considered 'brain food' in Traditional Japanese Diet is seaweed, added to soups and used for wrapping sushi. Seaweed provides lots of minerals, particularly Iodine.




9. Fermented vegetables in the form of pickles are served with all traditional Japanese foods. They are considered a good way of dealing with worms that come from eating raw fish.




10. All meals in Japan are served with Japanese green tea . Green tea has half the caffeine of coffee. Green tea vitamins help the digestive system, particularly when fried or breaded foods are being served. Green tea products are used in Japanese cakes and desserts.

The locals do a lot of exercise as part of their daily routine. The day begins early with a commute by train to work. First they walk to the station, which can take 20-30 minutes.
The commute to the office can take up to two hours (that’s the norm, not a special case).

Most people will stand all the way, since there are not enough seats. After arriving at the station they typically have another 20-30 minutes walk in the never-ending corridors of the Tokyo underground.
Many people use bicycles (you don't even have to lock them in Tokyo…but you do need a license).

At the end of the day, workers go through the same routine. All in all, the average office worker will walk a few kilometers per day.

Breakfast In Tokyo

Many westerners (me included) lose a lot of weight eating according to Traditional Japanese Diet – making no effort at all.

Return from Traditional Japanese Diet to Food in Tokyo for more information about Traditional Japanese Foods.

Don't forget to explore How to make Green Tea and it's health benefits, Japanese Desserts and more.

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