For decades, the Mediterranean diet has been considered the best in the world. However, the Japanese diet is not far behind. Not for nothing are they the longest-lived society in the world.
We are very proud that our Mediterranean diet is considered the healthiest diet in the world. It is recommended for everything because of its balance and variety, and its prevalence of legumes, fruits and vegetables. However, there is one country that, in addition to having an extraordinary longevity rate, also has a very low percentage of obese people: Japan.
Some people talk about genetics, but others attribute the ease with which the Japanese maintain their figure and their longevity to their diet. They do not spend all day eating sushi, but their diet is rich in fresh foods, with little fat and added sugars. In addition, the way menus are prepared also matters. The Japanese avoid fried foods and cook everything steamed, boiled or grilled.
To be more specific, the BBC explains that a study with mice analyzed Japanese diets from different periods and it was the 1975 diet that gave the best results, showing less fat accumulation in the mice that followed it. Thus, this diet is rich in rice, the basis of their food instead of wheat. But it is not the white rice we eat in Spain, but different types of rice originating in the country, with a different texture and consistency.
Fish is essential
Noodles are also a common food in Japan. Some are made with rice flour and others with buckwheat or common wheat. Noodle dishes are usually accompanied by a lot of broth or meat and sauces. On the other hand, fish and seafood are the main source of protein for the Japanese, unlike in Spain, which is meat. The Japanese also eat a lot of vegetables and fruit, either cooked or raw. When it comes to drinking, they prioritize water and green tea, which helps to lose weight. They also supplement their dishes with soy, miso, egg, tofu and seaweed.
On the other hand, the Japanese do not usually eat bread or any other type of carbohydrate with their meals; that is why they eat rice. Dairy products are also not an essential part of their diet and are consumed only occasionally. As for meat, its consumption in Japan is much lower than in Europe, although they do have dishes that include meat, such as ramen and yakiniku, which is literally grilled meat.
In Japan they try to avoid processed foods, but they have plenty of prepared foods that are cheap. Sugary drinks, despite having a wide variety of flavors, are not something that is abused in Japan, as are snacks, which have a wide variety of sweets, but they are something punctual and not daily.
Everything counts, both the food consumed and eating habits.
In addition, to all this we must add healthy eating habits, such as the Japanese eat slowly, with small portions at a time, without binge eating. Their lifestyle is “Hara hachi bun me”, or eating until you are eight portions (80%) full. Even so, cases of diabetes are on the rise in Japan today, either because of an aging population or because of the consumption of unhealthy foods and fast food.
We are very proud that our Mediterranean diet is considered the healthiest in the world. It is recommended for everything because of its balance and variety, and its prevalence of legumes, fruits and vegetables. However, there is one country that, in addition to having an extraordinary longevity rate, also has a very low percentage of obese people: Japan.
My name is Maggie and I'm a writer for thesilverink.com, a website dedicated to news, culture and lifestyle. I have always been passionate about writing and I decided to make it my profession by becoming a web editor. I work on counterpoint.info and I mainly take care of the lifestyle section. I like to share my discoveries and my favorites with the readers, whether it's about fashion, beauty, decoration or gastronomy.
