Japanese Women Don’t Get Old or Fat
This diet is outlined in the book Japanese Women Don’t Get Old or Fat: Secrets of My Mother’s Tokyo Kitchen by Naomi Moriyama. Similar to the Okinawa Diet, it’s based on healthy Japanese staples such as fish and vegetables with an emphasis on sea vegetables, brown rice, tofu, miso, soba noodles, tea, and fruit. Beef and chicken are used as condiments rather than entrees, meaning they are used sparingly to add subtle flavor to other foods. Foods such as dairy, breads, and flours are excluded.
The premise of the diet is based on scientific research citing that Japanese women have the lowest rate of obesity in the developed world as well as the longest life expectancy on earth. Although some argue that these impressive rankings are a result of good genes, evidence shows that once Japanese women start eating unhealthy foods found in Western diets, they do gain weight and their health diminishes.
According to Naomi this is not a diet plan, but rather “a whole new way of falling in love with food.” She describes Japan as the “Food Utopia of Planet Earth,” and speaks of her mother’s kitchen with great pride and joy: “It smells like the earth, the sea and the mountains… it smells like life.”
The main principles include avoiding overeating, observing the hara hachi bu rule (eating until you are only 80% full), eating lots of fresh vegetables, and a wide variety of foods. This plan also encourages followers to eat more whole grains (brown rice over white rice) and choose fruit for dessert.
Foods to include:
- Vegetables
- Fruits
- Whole grains
- Meat, sparingly
- Poultry, sparinglyFish
- Eggs
- Beans
Foods to avoid:
- Refined grains
- Processed foods
- Refined sugar
- Dairy
- Bread
- Flour
Pros:
- Can be a lifestyle rather than a diet
- Emphasizes whole foods
- Considers primary food
Cons:
- May be difficult for some to restrict sweets
- May be difficult for some to restrict bread
- Some thrive on dairy
Sources:
Naomi Moriyama’s Japanese Women Don’t Get Old or Fat
Japanese Women Don’t Get Old or Fat: Secrets of My Mother’s Tokyo Kitchen www.justhungry.com (Links to an external site.)
