10 Ways To Eat Your Way To 100 Years

Eat like the Japanese, die like the Japanese.

Ever notice why the oldest people in the world are often from Japan?

It's no coincidence that the Japanese live longer than everyone else on Earth, and that their diet and lifestyle are relatively healthier too. The average Japanese person eats 25% fewer calories than the average American, which is partly why they have the lowest obesity rate in the developed world. While you may be thinking that they naturally have good genetics, their health is contingent on the fact that they eat small meals filled with relatively healthier foods. Life is already short, so why not make a few healthy diet changes and strive to live to 100!

1. Enjoy a lovely pot of oden

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Konjac, seaweed, hard boiled eggs, and daikon may be the healthiest ingredients in oden, a sort of hot pot. You can find konjac, or konnyaku, in various Japanese hot pot dishes. If you have never heard of it, it's made from the root of the Amorphophallus konjac plant. It doesn't taste like much, and is enjoyed more for the texture. It is a vegan substitute for gelatin, high in fiber, and has absolutely no calories.

2. "Oh, MISO hot!"

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Miso soup is a very important culinary staple in Japan, and varies by prefecture and household. It's been around since 14,000 BC, and today you can find miso soups of diverse ingredients. The most basic is the one pictured above, including tofu, green onions, and seaweed. Miso is rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals.

3. Pick at some colorful Japanese pickles

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The slightly salty Japanese pickles jazzes up your tastebuds, and are good for your health. Since it is fermented, it has probiotics that promotes healthy skin, and better digestive and kidney health. It's also full of vitamin B and B2. The next time you're served tsukemono, don't be afraid to give these weird looking things a try!

4. Feeling adventuresome? Try natto!

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Natto is fermented soybean, and is usually served with green onions and soy sauce at breakfast. Fermented foods help the body by providing beneficial enzymes, b-vitamins, Omega-3 fatty acids, and various strains of probiotics. Natural fermentation also preserves nutrients in food and improves digestion.

5. Top off your salad with seaweed

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Experts attribute the longevity of the Japanese to their seaweed eating habits, because it is packed with DHA, calcium, and antioxidants that fight diseases. Scientists at Newcastle University recently reported that a compound in seaweed called alginate, stops the body from absorbing fat. They found that a fourfold increase in consumption of alginate boosted suppression of fat digestion by 75%.

6. No fishy health problems from salmon...

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The Japanese love to eat fish, especially salmon, fresh tuna, mackerel, sardines, and herring. Salmon is usually served salted and grilled, making for a tasty meal full of omega-3 fatty acids, which boosts your metabolism and decreases risk of heart disease, Alzheimer's, dementia, and depression.

7. Dip your chopsticks into shabu shabu

This dish is incredibly healthy, as long as you don't over do it on the meat. Filled with an assortment of vegetables and tofu, shabu shabu is a healthy way to cook meat. By simply dipping a thinly sliced piece of pork or beef in boiling water for 3-5 seconds, the cooking process is complete. Now, flavor it with it with a low calorie sesame or ponzu sauce and you're all set!

8. Have fun pronouncing this: Kinpira burdock

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Burdock is a root vegetable that is also common in Japanese dishes, especially seasoned appetizers like the one above. It is very low in calories, and contains antioxidants, disease preventing compounds, and health promoting properties. It also holds valuable minerals, such as iron, manganese, and magnesium, zinc, and calcium. It is also a good source of non-starch polysaccharides such as inulin, which acts as a prebiotic and helps reduce blood-sugar level, body-weight, and cholesterol levels in the blood.

9. Replace salty peanuts with soybeans

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Lightly salted soybeans make for a great snack, and are commonly served with ice cold beer at pubs. Soy is packed with protein, which means it can be a wonderful alternative to (red) meat, which contains unhealthy animal fat. Japanese meals often include more than one soy-based dish, like miso soup (miso is fermented soy beans) and chunks of tofu.

10. Start your meal with hiyayakko

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This tasty looking vegan dish is called hiyayakko, which is essentially a cube of tofu with green onions, dried bonito flakes, and soy sauce. Firm tofu as opposed to silken tofu is a great source of protein, with minimal fat.

Can't stop drooling?

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Me too. These Japanese foods look delicious and better news--they are entirely healthy! But before you google search for the closest Japanese restaurant, here are some tips to healthy Japanese dining: don't drown your food in soy sauce, which is very high in sodium. Two tablespoons puts you at your daily sodium intake limit! Also, most Japanese restaurants only serve white rice, which is stripped of fiber and is high in carbohydrates, so opt for brown rice when you can. Lastly, while Japanese fried chicken, pork katsu, gyoza, and tempura are all so delicious and tempting, try not to eat these calorie dense foods too often if you're being mindful of your health.