| Research shows that Japanese people have the | | | | substances which are anti-carcinogens and have |
| longest life expectancy rates in the world. The | | | | been proven effective against breast cancer and |
| average life expectancy for Japanese women is | | | | prostate cancer. Because soy is a low-fat source |
| 85 and 78 for Japanese men. | | | | of protein, studies indicate that soy consumption |
| One of the reasons for the Japanese having the | | | | can help you lose weight and build lean muscle |
| longest life expectancy rates is due to their diets. | | | | mass. |
| Research shows that Japanese people eat a | | | | Japanese people who stick to their traditional diets |
| greater variety of foods than people who adopt | | | | also drink a lot of green tea. Rich in cancer fighting |
| Western diets. For example, recent studies | | | | substances called anti-oxidants, green tea helps |
| indicate that the Japanese eat over 100 different | | | | the body to naturally burn fat and cause |
| varieties of food per week, while Westerners, on | | | | carbohydrates to be released slowly which |
| the other hand, eat only about 30 different types | | | | promotes the burning of fat. |
| of food. | | | | Although Japanese cooking takes a lot of time to |
| The types of food that Japanese eat also seem | | | | prepare, many restaurants and delis now offer |
| to be a significant factor in their life expectancy. | | | | pre-packaged Japanese foods on their menu. So, |
| Fresh vegetables such as bean sprouts, bamboo | | | | although you may not have time to prepare it |
| shoots, string beans, mushrooms and cabbage | | | | yourself at home, pre-packaged Japanese food is |
| form an important part of their diet. And while | | | | an easy option; as is dining in a Japanese |
| red meat is not excluded from their diets, it is | | | | restaurant when you choose to eat out. |
| only eaten in small quantities. By contrast, fish | | | | On a typical day, a Japanese menu may consist |
| makes up a big part of their diet and is eaten 3 | | | | of the following: Breakfast: rice and fish or egg |
| times more than meat. | | | | with a bowl of Miso soup. Lunch: braised boneless |
| Additionally, oily fish such as Salmon, Mackerel and | | | | chicken thigh, onion slices and egg with a bowl of |
| Tuna are main staples in their diets. These types | | | | chopped mixed salad. Dinner: Stir-fry mixed |
| of fish contain important nutrients called Omega | | | | vegetables, cashews, bean sprouts and steamed |
| Fatty Acids which exert a protective influence | | | | rice. Dessert: Japanese waffle stuffed with sweet |
| over the heart and other organs. These nutrients | | | | red beans. |
| also help to maintain the health of the | | | | Over-all, the daily calories of a person following a |
| reproductive organs, brain and eyes. Omega Fatty | | | | Japanese diet is about 1400 calories and includes a |
| Acids also help to maintain a strong immune | | | | wide variety of fresh food, meat and vegetables. |
| system as well. | | | | If you are on a diet, following the typical Japanese |
| Furthermore, Japanese people eat about 40 times | | | | way of eating should help you to lose about 1 |
| more soy products than Westerners. Soy foods | | | | pound per week and help you to maintain a |
| contain an abundance of natural occurring | | | | healthy, longer life as well. |