Misconceptions about traditional Japanese diet and the balance between meat and vegetables

[Special Topic VI] Diet and Nutrition

43. I firmly believe that Japan's traditional cuisine was good.

Perhaps this serves as a wake-up call for our age of overeating. We often hear claims like, "The diets of the past were the most rational," or "For health reasons, we recommend consuming whole grains." This is because many firmly believe that the Japanese diet of the past was the healthiest. But is this really true?

To put it simply, the answer is wishful thinking. The average lifespan of Japanese people during the Edo period was about 26 years. The Tokugawa Shogunate prohibited the consumption of animal meat, forcing people to rely solely on plants for protein. Everyone was in a long-term state of protein deprivation, subsisting on salty pickles or soups and grains. Furthermore, women frequently died in childbirth, resulting in a shorter average lifespan than men.

During the Meiji and Taisho eras, the average Japanese person consumed only 3 grams of animal fat, while consuming as much as 20 grams of salt. The common people's diet consisted mainly of salty vegetables and grains. Because of this, their blood vessels aged prematurely, something hard to imagine today. By the end of the Taisho era, after 1920, the average lifespan of Japanese people was just over 40 years. On the other hand, the average lifespan of Americans during the same period was 60 years, a difference of about 1.5 times.

After World War II, the average life expectancy in Japan was 50 years. At that time, the average life expectancy in the Nordic countries, where meat and fish were consumed in abundance, had exceeded 70 years, clearly due to a lack of animal protein (meat, fish, eggs).

Looking at the global average life expectancy chart, the average life expectancy of Japanese people exceeded that of developed countries only after World War II, around 1950. The reasons for the post-war increase in average life expectancy include: ① improved nutrition due to the widespread consumption of meat; ② increased public health awareness; and ③ reduced infection rates.

The Japanese diet of the past only reduced the risk factors for adult diseases, but it was not actually good.

Sufficient protein is required.

In the United States, obesity is a major national problem. The main reason for their excess calories is the excessive intake of sugar and fat. I also lived in the US for almost six years, and I observed that Americans are generally very conservative with their diets, often eating the same things repeatedly. They eat fast food like pizza, hamburgers (whose sauces often contain impurities and lipids, hardly a source of protein), fries, pasta, cheese, and tortillas, and drink sugary carbonated beverages. This results in a diet rich in starch and trans fats (produced during the hydrogenation of vegetable oils to create solid fats, increasing blood cholesterol), as well as sugars, leading to extreme nutrient deficiency and a diet high in calories.

In the past, Okinawa, which prided itself on its exceptionally long lifespan and had the lowest salt intake in Japan, ate pork from head to toe. However, it has been strongly influenced by the American diet, which is characterized by "nutritional deficiencies and high calories," and this is particularly evident in the sharp drop in the life expectancy ranking of men.

As Dr. William Osler, a renowned Canadian cardiologist, once said, "Aging occurs as blood vessels age." Blood vessels are composed of proteins such as collagen and elastin fibers. Blood vessels are crucial to human life, and sufficient protein is essential to keep them young. Strive to consume foods that are rich in nutrients but low in calories.

44. Is it wrong to say "meat is bad, vegetables are good"?

There is no single food in this world that is good for your health if you eat it every day. This applies to all phenomena; things cannot be judged by only one aspect.

For example, brown rice is rich in nutrients. As part of the low-glycerol, low-index diet therapy for anti-aging, which will be discussed in the next chapter, brown rice secretes half the amount of insulin that damages cells. Furthermore, the outer layer of brown rice contains fentonic acid, which can absorb heavy metals and carcinogens and excrete them from the body, thus having a role in preventing tumors.

However, on the other hand, the outer layer contains a large amount of harmful heavy metals such as cadmium or lead from the soil. At AAC Clinic in Ginza, where I serve as executive director, specializing in anti-aging, there have been many cases of patients experiencing allergic symptoms such as rashes and itching, which have been confirmed to be caused by "frequently eating brown rice." I've also heard that eating brown rice is bad for digestion and damages the stomach, and so on. Dr. Shoji Maeda, a specialist in digestive surgery and the chief physician of Maeda Hospital, also emphasizes that "modern healthy living refers to a life with enjoyable eating habits. Generally speaking, eating palatable white rice and regularly consuming healthy foods is better than eating brown rice."

Just like that, even brown rice has its advantages and disadvantages.

A balanced diet with variety is important.

A variety of ingredients make for a delicious and enjoyable meal (provided you have basic knowledge of food and avoid excessive calories). A balanced and varied diet is essential.

The recent trend of "meat is bad, vegetables are good" is also a misconception. All five major nutrients-protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals-are important. In particular, the human body is 60% water, and the remaining solid matter is almost entirely composed of protein.

A lack of essential proteins that the human body needs signifies aging.

The quarterly journal of the Anti-Aging Medicine Society features a series called "Listening to the Voices of Centenarians." These interviews are conducted by Professor Kazuo Tsubota, editor-in-chief of the journal, professor of ophthalmology at Keio University School of Medicine, and vice president of the Anti-Aging Medicine Society. None of these individuals are vegetarians.

Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara, Honorary Director of St. Luke's International Hospital, also believes that while total calorie intake should be slightly controlled, protein sources such as steak must be consumed in sufficient quantities. Lipids are also components of cell membranes, playing a role in maintaining cell plumpness and providing protection.

While fat-loss diets can reduce weight, they can also cause dry skin and dull, lifeless hair. Moisturized and attractive hair will be lost. Only sugar can truly nourish the brain! Other nutrients won't provide energy. Excessively restricting sugar intake will prevent the brain from functioning properly; please remember this. This also shows that vegetables aren't everything.

Getting a balanced intake of the five essential nutrients from a variety of foods... that's only natural, but it's true.