It can be difficult keeping up with all of the sea of diets like the Mediterranean and ketogenic, but there’s one style of diet that is so much more than just a trend: the Okinawa diet. This one simple diet has the power to completely transform your health and even increase your lifespan and it’s all about taking a leaf out of the book of the super healthy folks from Okinawa, Japan. These islanders have some cool secrets when it comes to staying fit and living well. From eating lots of veggies and lean protein to steering clear of the saturated fats, sugar, and overly processed foods, there’s no denying the benefits that can follow the Okinawa diet. But it isn’t just about what you eat, but also how you feel about what you eat. So, if you’re up for trying something that’s a mix of delicious nutrition and a dash of discipline, the Okinawa diet might just be your new adventure. Before you take a bite, let this article guide you through all the questions you may have, so you can determine if taking your pallet on a trip to Japan is for you.
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What is the Okinawa Diet?
In the simplest terms, the Okinawa diet embraces the traditional eating patterns of the people on Japan’s Okinawa island, people who are known to have exceptional health and a high life expectancy.
Traditionally, the diet largely consisted of an array of bright, colourful vibrant vegetables and soy products, with the occasional small portion of noodles, rice, pork, and fish. However, there have been a few changes over the course of evolution, resulting in more protein and fats being included. Although, the diet still remains low-calorie and carb-based.
Here is a clearer idea of what foods make up an Okinawa diet:
- Vegetables (58–60%)
- Grains (33%)
- Soy foods (5%)
- Meat and seafood (1–2%)
- Other (1%)
However, as mentioned previously, the Okinawa Diet isn’t just about what you’re eating. It’s much more of a way of life and incorporating daily physical activity and mindful eating rituals are also key to this style of eating.
The Benefits of the Okinawa Diet
The Okinawa diet is largely recognized for its potential to increase life expectancy. To put it into perspective, the average life expectancy in the United States is around 79.1 years; in Japan, it extends to 84.5 years. Additionally, five times as many Okinawans reach their 100-year birthday compared to the rest of the country. This alone can be enough encouragement to drop the modern diet and adapt to one from the Okinawa island.
But the good news doesn’t end there. This type of diet offers a plethora of benefits that extend well beyond your plate.
- Extended lifespan.
- Low-calorie diet for weight management.
- Loaded with antioxidants and nutrients.
- Reduced inflammation
- Better control of cholesterol
- Reduced risk of heart disease and other chronic diseases
- Combat oxidative stress.
What Foods To Eat on the Okinawa Diet
Vegetables take the lead, making up around 58-60% of the Okinawa diet. This food category includes an array of nutrient-packed choices such as sweet potatoes in both orange and purple varieties, along with seaweed, kelp, bamboo shoots, daikon radish, bitter melon, cabbage, carrots, Chinese okra, pumpkin, and green papaya.
Grains follow, making up approximately 33% of the diet. This group encompasses a mix of nourishing grains like millet, wheat, rice, and the occasional inclusion of noodles.
Soy foods take up a modest but important spot, comprising around 5% of the Okinawan diet. Some examples of soy-based foods include tofu, miso, natto, and edamame.
When it comes to proteins, the goal is to keep them lean and minimal, as meat and seafood only make up a conservative 1-2% of the diet. Some popular options on the Okinawa diet include white fish and seafood, with occasional appearances of pork in various cuts, including organ meats.
A small, yet integral, portion of the diet, about 1%, is reserved for other essentials. This includes the occasional consumption of alcohol, tea, spices, and the flavorful dashi broth. It’s also worth mentioning that the spices and herbs used aren’t just for flavor. Okinawan culture sees food as a healing agent and many of the herbs and spices used are for their medicinal properties.
Interestingly, rice is usually a main part of many Japanese meals, but it takes a back seat to purple potatoes in Okinawa.
How to Get Started with the Okinawa Diet
The first step to starting any diet is to get familiar with the food items permitted and find some delicious recipes to try. Following a meal plan can be a great asset, as it does a lot of the research and planning for you. You may also want to use a food tracker to make note of the ingredients and meals you thoroughly enjoyed, or any tips you discover along the way.
Other than that, the next step is to understand the mindfulness portion.
Hara Hachi Bu
A key concept that makes The Okinawan diet more like a lifestyle: “hara hachi bu”. This saying that is commonly practiced alongside the Okinawa diet encourages you to eat until you have reached 80% fullness.
Mindful Eating
Hara Hachi Bu is often achieved through mindful eating, another key component of the Okinawa diet that makes this style of eating more of a way of life. Mindful eating is all about engaging all of your senses to fully experience and enjoy your foods. Here are some tips to help you incorporate mindful eating the next time you take a bite:
- Smell the different aromas that make up the dish.
- Admire the various colours on your plate.
- Look at the different textures and feel the differences as they enter your mouth.
- Explore the different flavors with every bite.
The key is to pause, reflect and enjoy. Not only will this help encourage a positive relationship with the food and eating, but it will also help prevent overeating.
Okinawa Diet Tips
You can never have too many tips when transitioning into a new diet. In addition to the ones provided to you through this article, here are a couple more:
- Go for colorful foods: The Okinawans are known for eating a vast array of different, brightly colored vegetables.
- Visit your local farmers market: Explore new vegetables with a trip to your local farmers market.
- Stick with high-quality meat and seafood: Although limited in the Okinawa diet, you’ll want to make sure the meat and seafood that you do have is of high-quality. Think wild-caught seafood.
- Limit your grains and dairy: Very little dairy is used in this diet. So, keep an eye on your intake. The same can be said about grains.
- Opt for soy instead: Incorporate tofu into a stir-fry or make the shift from dairy milk to soy milk, or give natto, a fermented soybean delicacy, a try.
- Trade out red meat for pork or fish: Prioritize healthy fats such as those found in pork belly, fish, and seafood.
- Add some fun-gi into your meals: Adding mushrooms like shiitake, oyster, and king trumpet mushrooms is a great way to add a pop of flavor.
- Focus on plant-based proteins: Think tofu, beans and legumes.
- Skip the sugar: You’ll have to bid farewell to those sugary snacks you love but it’ll be worth it! Don’t worry, you can enjoy them at special celebrations.
- Basic beverages: Instead of sugary juices and carbonated sodas, try to enjoy herbal teas, such as Jasmine tea, green tea or black tea instead. It’s also important to stay hydrated, so make sure you’re getting plenty of water in.
- Slow down: To incorporate the mindful eating portion into your Okinawa diet, aim to take breaths or put your utensil down in between each bite.
- Smaller portions: Having smaller food portions on your plate will allow you to focus on the items you’re enjoying, helping you achieve the Hara Hachi Bu and mindful side.
So, whether you’re an adventurous foodie or looking to embrace a healthier lifestyle, the Okinawa diet has something intriguing to offer. From colorful plates filled with nutrient-packed veggies and delicious soy-based beverages, to the power of “hara hachi bu” and mindful eating, it’s safe to say that the Okinawa diet is unlike anything you’ve likely tried before. It isn’t just a diet – it’s a celebration of longevity, a tribute to tradition, and a mindful connection to food. And with the evidence supporting the incredible benefit it has to offer, why not take your taste buds on a trip to Japan?
