5 foods found in Japanese dishes that could help you live longer!

The Japanese are known for having a wonderfully wide range of flavoursome foods, and their cuisine is varied, ultimately providing those who eat in the ‘Japanese style’ with a very healthy option.

If you don't know much about the foods that people all over the world enjoy on a daily basis that originates from the Japanese culture, then we can help you. Below we have featured five ingredients found in Japanese dishes that could help you live longer. Why not take a look and see how you can add in some to your diet?

Pickled Vegetables

Pickled vegetables that are fermented in the typical way (vegetables are mixed with different vinegars and oils, sugar, spices and seasonings like soy sauce, fish sauce and miso. They’re pickled for very short time periods of anywhere from a few minutes to a full 24 hours), provide a rich source of natural probiotics.

By consuming these it can aid in not only digestive health, but also in digesting and absorb the nutrients the foods we eat, which supports all areas of our health.

The majority of the pickled vegetables found in supermarkets aren’t traditionally fermented, simply pickled with vinegar or salt and pasteurised to kill off any yeasts and bacteria. For the best results, why not try making them yourself?

Miso Paste

Did you know that one of the secrets of Japanese women’s health is said to partially due to the fact that they regularly consume fermented soya foods?

As opposed to merely consuming just any soya, the Japanese tend to consume traditional fermented soya foods such as miso, and tempeh, or natto.

It acts to escalate the vitamin K2 content, and this particular vitamin plays a role in bone and heart health.

Miso pastes contain isoflavones and are claimed to help women following the onset of the menopause. This is because the compounds act as phytoestrogens - plant substances that offer a weak oestrogen-like effect once they enter the body.

Furthermore, women who consume miso paste are known to have increased and ultimately better bone mineral density, as well as reducing the risk of osteoporosis and improving cardiovascular health.

You can also look to use umami paste too!

Fish

It’s very much common knowledge that fish give us a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are a very reliable source for maintaining a healthy heart.

It’s not just the heart that benefits from a fish-rich diet, those who regularly eat fish enjoy benefits to their eye health, brain and also reduces inflammation.

Another reason to keep fish high on the list of your dietary regulars is the fact that they are rich in selenium; a vital element for our antioxidant defences and immune system, as well as B vitamins that can assist in keeping our brain chemistry in balance.

Matcha Tea

In case you didn't already know, matcha is a traditional powdered green tea that is made using the fresh leaf tips of the tea plant.

Green tea – matcha especially – is high in a specific type of flavanols called catechins, which are said to boost the body’s antioxidant defences.

In addition to offering catechins, matcha tea provides us with increased amounts of a substance called theanine, which has been proven to promote a relaxing effect on the mind and could well assist in contributing a barrier against negative effects as a result of stress.

Seaweed

Believe it or not, seaweed claims a spot in amongst other foods that are revered as being a true superfood.

Seaweed boasts rich levels of minerals, such as zinc, iodine, calcium, magnesium, potassium and a whole host of other trace minerals our bodies require for optimum efficiency in the immune system, antioxidant defences and heart health.

So before you indulge in our Japanese sweets, make sure you’ve had your fill of the foods we’ve mentioned above!