Why I also Love the Japanese Diet

The 1970's was a wild decade, fomenting revolutionary new ideas and paradigms. Amidst all the free love and wild music, a revolution in our understanding of diet and heart health was easily overlooked. Yet the findings of the Seven Countries Study, an in-depth look at the traditional foods and lifestyles of seven different cultures across the globe, still have the power to profoundly influence our vitality and longevity.

It was the Seven Countries Study that first shed light on the Mediterranean diet. What many people don't know is that the traditional diet and lifestyle of the Okinawan islands of Japan also came out far ahead of those of typical Western and northern European cultures. In fact, in the 1970's, Americans were five times more likely to develop heart disease than Okinawan elders.

What makes the Japanese diet so healthy? Typical foods include sweet potatoes (rich in vitamins, fiber and anti-oxidants), seaweed, green vegetables, soy, fish, and green tea. Not only is the diet healthy, but the traditional practice is to stop eating when you are 80% full, meaning that Okinawans tend to be much leaner than typical Americans (who often don't stop eating until we are 120% full). Okinawans also tend to have rich spiritual lives, and remain active well into old age.

Ironically, now that fast food and a Western lifestyle has made its way into Japan, the Okinawan advantage is beginning to disappear.

You can read more about this fascinating culture in The Okinawa Program : How the World's Longest-Lived People Achieve Everlasting Health--And How You Can Too and The Okinawa Diet Plan: Get Leaner, Live Longer, and Never Feel Hungry.