Japan: birth
place of karate, Pokémon and of course Sushi. Sushi among other Japanese cuisine
is one of the biggest contributors to Japan's health. Japanese people have a less than 5% obesity
rate (1)! Japanese folk gravitate towards meals focusing on vegetables,
legumes, seafood and pickled/fermented food – and rarely eat sugary/highly
processed foods.
The Japanese
also don't eat vast quantities of any one type of food in a sitting. The
popular bento box gives small portions of a wide variety of foods at each meal.
The greater the variation, the healthier it is.
Well, obviously not if it's 5 different types of candy and junk food put
on the same plate but you get the idea. They have perfected the well-balanced
diet with loads of fruit and veg, all containing a wide variety of necessary vitamins
and minerals, protein, calcium and fiber from the seafood and legumes. Pair that
with the drink of longevity and you’ve got a recipe for success.
The classic bento box
Green tea,
and not sugary soda, is the most popular beverage in Japan. Green tea has been in Japanese culture and
tradition since it was popularized in 1738 by Soen Nagatani (2). He was the developer
of the steam drying process of tea leaves that preserved the tea, making it
stay fresh longer. Aside from water, green tea is probably the healthiest
beverage to drink. The tea is antibacterial (kills many viruses) and is full
of antioxidants, which help reduce your risk of developing high cholesterol,
heart disease, cancers, Alzheimer's, Parkinson’s and metabolic syndrome.
Mmm...
Japan is on my bucket list – primarily because of its food. Japanese food is the bomb! But until I can get my stomach to Japan, I will have to bring Japan to my stomach. One of my favorite Japanese restaurants in Windsor is Hikari. They have amazing sushi rolls and sashimi; and soups and noodle dishes for those who do not favor raw fish. The Philadelphia roll and the sake nigiri are the absolute best! As cooked dishes go, the kake udon noodles is the the way to go.
The
Philadelphia roll is sushi made with salmon, cucumber, avocado and cream
cheese. The seaweed is jam packed with magnesium and potassium guaranteed to help lower anxiety and improve your sleep. The cream cheese is surprisingly high in vitamin A, an essential component of eye health. It's a win win.
Philadelphia roll
The
sake nigiri is essentially just a piece of raw fish on top on a ball of rice
usually paired with wasabi and soy sauce for an extra kick. The omega 3’s from the salmon are sure to give your brain a much needed boost!
Sake nigiri
Kake udon
is a noodle soup with mild flavor. Its simplicity sure is a crowd pleaser. The main ingredient in the broth is kelp, a wonderful source of vitamins and minerals and with even more calcium than milk. Nothing is better than a warm bowl of Kake udon on a cold winter's day-like today!
Kake udon
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1. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2228rank.html2. http://www.hibiki-an.com/contents.php/cnID/17
I love sake nigiri! I also didn't know udon was Japanese, which I found interesting.
ReplyDeleteAlso, you talk about how the Japanese don't often eat large meals in one sitting ; how do their meals work? Do they typically eat breakfast, lunch, dinner...etc or do they have a different schedule?
Thanks for the comment Dante, Japan dose in fact eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. Skipping most snacks and usually drinking water or tea helps the Japanese stay full until the next meal. Hope that answers your question, and if you have any more don’t hesitate to ask!
DeleteAh okay! I've heard of Korean culture and how their days work around such long hours that the meals are changed around and I was wondering if such was true for other countries in Asia, despite obvious cultural differences. I'd have to say that Japanese food is definitely one of my favourite, especially sushi.
DeleteI must say the Philadelphia rolls do look very appealing. I also am very happy to hear that one of my favorite types of food is probably one of the healthiest out there. With their low consumption of sugars and moderated consumption of carbs and protein there is not much that could be said negatively about their diet. What I was not aware of was how healthy their famous green tea is. Personally I do not find it very appealing in taste or smell but if it is really as good as it is said to be I will definitely give it another try.
ReplyDeleteJapanese food is my absolute favorite because of sushi! I want to thank everyone who contributed to the making of sushi haha! My favorite is the Philadelphia role because the cream cheese in the sushi role gives it a unique taste. Love your blog! Keep up the good work Soph!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the reasons why I would like to go to Japan. I am not a big fan of junk food and I would rather go to a place that eats a balanced meal. Sushi is incredible and I would like to go there to experience their food.
ReplyDelete