Why is Japanese diet so healthy?

The traditional Japanese diet focuses on whole, minimally processed, nutrient-rich, seasonal foods. It's particularly rich in seafood, vegetables, and fruit, and limits meat, dairy, and snacks. It may improve digestion, aid weight management, help you live longer, and protect against various diseases.

healthline.com - The Japanese Diet: Benefits, Food List, and Meal Plan - Healthline

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We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process. This article explains everything you need to know about the traditional Japanese diet. This eating pattern is rich in nutrients and may provide numerous health benefits, including improved weight loss, digestion, longevity, and overall health. It’s based on traditional Japanese cuisine, also known as “washoku,” which consists of small dishes of simple, fresh, and seasonal ingredients. The traditional Japanese diet is a whole-foods-based diet rich in fish, seafood, and plant-based foods with minimal amounts of animal protein, added sugars, and fat. The traditional Japanese diet is rich in minimally processed, fresh, seasonal foods. It contains very small amounts of added sugars, fats, or animal protein and promotes fish, seafood, rice, noodles, seaweed, soy, fruit, and vegetables. It contrasts with modern Japanese cuisine, which has strong Western and Chinese influences and includes larger amounts of animal protein and processed foods. The traditional Japanese diet resembles the Okinawan diet , the historical eating pattern of those living on the Japanese island of Okinawa, but includes significantly more rice and fish. The diet is rich in steamed rice, noodles, fish, tofu, natto, seaweed , and fresh, cooked, or pickled fruits and vegetables but low in added sugars and fats. It may also contain some eggs, dairy, or meat, although these typically make up a small part of the diet. This style of eating emphasizes dishes’ natural flavors rather than masking them with sauces or seasonings. The traditional Japanese diet consists of minimally processed, seasonal foods served in a variety of small dishes. Traditional Japanese meals consist of steamed rice or noodles served with a warm soup, a seafood- or soy-based main dish, and a few sides. Naturally occurring umami is used to enhance the flavor of foods. Hot green tea or cold barley tea are the beverages of choice, while alcoholic drinks like beer and sake are typically reserved for dinner. Snacks are uncommon and seldom eaten ( 3 ). Visual appeal is another important aspect of the traditional Japanese diet. Dishes tend to be eaten in small bites with chopsticks, as this method is believed to create a rich harmony of flavors. Japanese meals are known for their rich umami flavor , which has been described as the fifth taste — distinct from sweet, salty, sour, and bitter. Naturally occurring umami enhances the flavor of vegetables and other nutrient-rich foods in Japanese cuisine ( 1 ).

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Japanese meals generally consist of a staple food combined with a soup, a main dish, and a few sides ( 1 , 2 ).

The traditional Japanese diet is linked to an array of health benefits.

Rich in nutrients and beneficial compounds

The traditional Japanese diet is naturally rich in various nutrients, including fiber, calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, and vitamins A, C, and E ( 4 ). Vegetables contribute to the nutrient density of this diet and are often cooked in dashi, a dried fish and sea vegetable based stock. This reduces their volume and enhances their flavor, making it easier to eat large amounts ( 5 ). The diet also offers good amounts of seaweed and green tea. Both are great sources of antioxidants, which are beneficial compounds that protect your body against cellular damage and disease ( 4 , 6 , 7 ). What’s more, the many fish- and seaweed-based dishes included in this diet provide long-chain omega-3 fats, which promote brain, eye, and heart health ( 8 ).

May improve your digestion

Seaweed, soybeans, fruits, and vegetables are naturally rich in fiber, a nutrient that aids your digestion. Insoluble fiber moves food through your gut and adds bulk to stool, reducing your risk of constipation ( 9 ). These foods also boast soluble fiber, which feeds the beneficial bacteria in your gut and helps reduce the space available for harmful bacteria to multiply ( 10 , 11 , 12 ). When gut bacteria feed on soluble fiber, they produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which may reduce inflammation and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis ( 9 , 13 , 14 ). Moreover, the pickled fruits and vegetables commonly eaten on this diet are a great source of probiotics. These beneficial bacteria promote gut health and reduce digestive symptoms like gas, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea ( 15 , 16 , 17 ).

May promote a healthy weight

The traditional Japanese diet is rich in vegetables, has small portion sizes, and is naturally low in added sugar and fat. These factors all contribute to a low calorie count ( 18 ). In addition, Japanese culture encourages eating until only 80% full. This practice deters overeating and may contribute to the calorie deficit needed to lose weight ( 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ). Furthermore, research shows that the fiber-rich vegetables, soy foods, and soups typical of the traditional Japanese diet may help reduce appetite and boost fullness, thus promoting weight control ( 23 , 24 , 25 ).

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Evidence also suggests that alternating between dishes, as is common during traditional Japanese meals, may reduce the total amount of food eaten per meal ( 26 ).

May protect against chronic diseases

The traditional Japanese diet may safeguard against conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. It’s naturally rich in fish, seaweed, green tea, soy, fruits, and vegetables but low in added sugar, fat, and animal protein — all factors believed to protect against heart disease ( 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ). In fact, Japanese people’s risk of heart disease remains unexpectedly low despite their high salt intake, which typically raises heart disease risk ( 28 ). What’s more, in a 6-week study in 33 men following the traditional Japanese diet, 91% experienced significant reductions in risk factors for type 2 diabetes, including excess weight and high LDL (bad) cholesterol levels ( 32 , 33 ). Plus, the high green tea intake encouraged on this diet may protect against Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and certain types of cancer ( 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ).

May help you live longer

Japan has one of the world’s highest life expectancies, which many experts attribute to the traditional Japanese diet ( 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ). In fact, the Japanese island of Okinawa is considered a Blue Zone, which is a region with extremely high longevity. Keep in mind that the Okinawa diet focuses heavily on sweet potatoes and features less rice and fish than the traditional Japanese diet. In a 15-year study in over 75,000 Japanese people, those who closely followed the traditional Japanese diet experienced up to a 15% lower risk of premature death compared with those eating a Westernized diet ( 3 ). Experts link this increased lifespan to the traditional Japanese diet’s emphasis on whole, minimally processed foods, as well as its low added fat and sugar content ( 1 ).

healthline.com - The Japanese Diet: Benefits, Food List, and Meal Plan - Healthline

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