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What is the best way to improve your bone health?

Bone density decreases with age. When bone density decreases, the bones become fragile, and without knowing it, it may lead to the breakage of the back and hips. In addition, even a slight fall can easily lead to fractures. It is so-called osteoporosis.
It is essential to increase bone density to stay healthy for a long time. But what is the bestway to improve your bone health?

Exercise, sleep, and nutrition are vital in building strong bones. This time, Here are the ways how to make strong bones below.

Exercise for bones

Bone stimulation increases bone density. It would be best if you also had muscle strength to keep your bones strong. Move your body with moderate exercise such as walking, running, and lightweight training to stimulate your bones.

[e.g., One-legged gymnastics]
Putting a load on the base of the foot will strengthen the bones. It will also improve the muscle strength and balance of the lower body.
Do it next to a desk that you can easily reach.

■ Gymnastics
Lift one leg 5-10 cm off the floor and hold for 1 minute. Do the same with the opposite leg.
■ How much should I do it?
1 set for left and right, 1 to 3 sets per day

Sleeping will grow bones

 

Again, what is the best way to improve your bone health?

If you sleep too little or too lightly, your body will not produce growth hormones, which affects bone growth and repair. Get plenty of sunshine during the day, stay active, and try to get a good night’s sleep.

Nutrition for strong bones

Eating a well-balanced diet every day is the basis of good health. Let’s be conscious of adequate nutrients to promote bone metabolism. It will make your bone strong and durable.

■ Calcium
Necessary for bone and tooth formation and muscle contraction. Milk and dairy products contain a lot of and have a high absorption rate. Soybean products and small fish are rich in calcium.
■Vitamin D
It helps absorb calcium and strengthen bones—Salmon, mushrooms, etc. Moderate sunbathing is also effective for its production in the body.
■ Protein
Collagen material enhances bone quality. It is also essential for building muscles that prevent fractures—Meat, fish, eggs, soy products, etc.
■Vitamin K
It activates proteins and works directly on bones to improve bone quality. Abundant in natto (fermented soybean), green and yellow vegetables, eggs, etc.

A natural bone supplement

Juveriente®’s natural bone supplement, “Bone Strength Complex” may be the new best supplement for elderly. Since its launching in 2016, it has gathered positive feedbacks as the following.

Mandarin OrangeI have been taking Juveriente Bone Strength Complex for two years. I was waiting for my bone density test this year to write a review. My bone density test results improved. I was diagnosed with Osteoporosis two years ago. The prescription medications for Osteoporosis have too many side affects and I was looking for a good alternative. I am proud to report this product works and has no side affects. The gel capsules are easy to swallow.” (Nov. 17th 2022, a product review for our Amazon shop)

The main functional ingredient is simply an extract of a Japanese popular citrus fruit. Needless to say, it is better to try a natural food before jumping to strong medicines. Please learn details in our product page.

LEARN MORE BSC

 

Healthy diet for your skin beauty

There are probably more than a few people who have had the experience of having trouble applying makeup when their stomach is not feeling well after a series of events or having breakouts from eating junk food too frequently.
Healthy dietary habit is the base of your beautiful skin. Here we introduce you the good habits for your skin health.

Dietary habits that may cause rough skin

Overeating

Many people will eat more than before, such as picking snacks to relieve stress and having food within reach when working remotely. Overeating strains the stomach and intestines, contributing to dull skin and poor complexion.

Imbalanced diet

There may be a case that the menu was unexpectedly only carbohydrates eventually while you think you are healthy because you cook for yourself. Continuing meals mainly with carbohydrates causes a lack of protein and minerals, making it challenging to create healthy skin.

Lack of water

If you have fewer opportunities to go out and live a less active life, you will be less likely to get thirsty. Water in the body carries oxygen and nutrients and collects waste products through blood vessels and lymphatic vessels.

What are the dietary habits that prevent rough skin?

Breakfast

First and foremost, don’t skip breakfast. However, preparing a nutritionally balanced meal every morning is challenging. Also, some people may not be hungry when they wake up. A glass of milk and a banana is OK for such a person. Putting something in your mouth will turn on your sympathetic switch, and the autonomic nerves are easier to prepare, helping to bring the turnover closer to normal.

Lunch/Dinner

Ensure you have a well-balanced intake of the three major nutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats), vitamins, and minerals. Suppose you imagine a set meal format with staple foods such as bread and noodles, main dishes such as meat, fish, eggs, and side dishes such as vegetables, fruits, and mushrooms. In that case, it will be easier to maintain a nutritional balance.

We also recommend serving it with hot soup. If you make soup with lots of ingredients, such as vegetables and mushrooms, and eat it at the beginning of your meal, dietary fiber will prevent a spike in blood sugar levels. Also, taking fermented foods will improve the intestinal environment; I mean Japanese Miso soup for the latter.

Furthermore, for beautiful skin, the following nutrients should be proactively taken so as not to be deficient.

Nutrients and foods you need to eat consciously

Vitamin B2

Vitamin B2 keeps skin healthy and supports turnover. Foods rich in vitamin B2 include dairy milk, yogurt, cheese, eggs, almonds, spinach, etc.

Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 prevents dermatitis and controls sebum. Pork, milk, salmon, beans, eggs, etc. contain a lot of it, but since pork has a lot of fat, it may be better to remove it.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is essential for the synthesis of collagen. Vegetables rich in vitamin C include paprika and broccoli. However, it is soluble in water and sensitive to heat, so it’s better to take it from cabbage that can be eaten raw, kiwifruit, strawberries, navel, and other fruits.

Potassium

Avocados, potatoes (taro, sweet potato, potatoes, etc.), almonds, peanuts, and spinach are rich in potassium, which helps cell metabolism and promotes skin regeneration.

Calcium

Calcium brings turnover closer to normal and is essential for smooth and transparent skin. Dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt, small fish that are eatable to its bones, etc., contain large amounts.

Is it possible to use supplements? How to drink effectively

For minerals that tend to be deficient in food alone, you may want to consider using supplements.

For example, iron and zinc are essential minerals for maintaining healthy skin and promoting recovery from skin problems. In addition, as widely known, women are more prone to iron deficiency than men, primarily because of menstruation.

You will need to follow the prescribed amount of supplements and how to take them. It will be crucial to continue it for a certain period steadily. If you drink a lot of it at once because you’re concerned about skin problems, or if you stop drinking as soon as you see improvement, it won’t work well in your body.

In addition, vitamins and minerals work together, not independently. Remember that taking a specific supplement won’t make your skin look better. Please use it with the awareness of supplementing what is difficult to take from meals.

Why are Japanese fermented foods good for your health?

Three benefits of Japanese fermented foods

The action of microorganisms (lactic acid bacteria, koji mold, yeast, etc.) changes foods. It turns them into fermented foods that are good for your health. Fermentation offers three main benefits. (We focus on Japanese fermented foods as a Japanese health product supplier, but they are also applied to other fermented foods in the world.)

1.Improves food preservation

There are methods to preserve foods, such as “drying,” “salting,” and “smoking.”  “fermentation” is another course to improve preservation. Increasing the number of microorganisms that promote fermentation keeps spoilage bacteria at bay. In the world of microorganisms, if there are more than a certain number of specific organisms in an environment, other microorganisms cannot reproduce.
In addition, the lactic acid, acetic acid, and alcohol produced by fermentation also have a bactericidal effect, suppressing the growth of bacteria and preserving food taste.

2.Enhances flavor and aroma

Japanese fermented foods change their taste and aroma, making them more delicious and easier to eat. One of the tastes a Japanese scientist found and defined is umami, and the fermentation brings you this umami. The process of decomposition and fermentation of raw materials by the power of microorganisms produces components such as amino acids, inosinic acid, and guanylic acid. They are the source of umami.
The unique aroma of fermented foods is also due to the aroma components produced by the action of microorganisms during the fermentation process.

3.Increased nutritional value and health regulation

Fermenting food significantly increases nutritional value and health regulation function. Microorganisms produce various nutrients, such as vitamins, during the fermentation process. For example, Natto, made by fermenting soybeans, contains about ten times more vitamin B2 than boiled soybeans and almost three times more folic acid. Natto is rich in vitamin K2. Soybeans, the source of Natto, don’t have it. The fermentation added new nutritional components.
In addition, fermentation makes substances with health-regulating functions like anti-oxidant action more easily absorbed into the body. With the shape of Natto and miso, the body is easy to absorb the isoflavone, as it is already disolved through the fermentation.

Why Japanese fermented foods are good for you?

Now that we’ve discussed the benefits that fermentation brings to food. Let’s consider the help we receive from eating them from a health standpoint.
(However, the nutrients in each fermented food differ, and the same is not necessarily for all.)

1.Easily absorbed into the body

During the fermentation process, microorganisms break down the starch and protein, the raw material nutrients, so there is no need to break them down in the body, reducing the burden on the body.

2.Boosts immunity

Lactic acid bacteria and natto bacteria contained in fermented foods have the function of adjusting the intestinal environment. Incorporating fermented foods will increase your immunity and help you maintain your health.

3.Supports youthfulness

They say that aging causes active oxygen in the body. The intake of antioxidants is effective in suppressing its occurrence. Fermented foods such as miso, red wine, and chocolate are rich in polyphenols as antioxidants.
In addition, they say that the amino acids and enzymes produced in the fermentation process promote the formation of new cells, which is said to have a beautiful skin effect.
Improves metabolism and prevents lifestyle-related diseases

B vitamins, found in many fermented foods, help boost metabolism.

In addition, isoflavones in fermented soybean foods such as miso, soy sauce, and Natto reduce bad cholesterol in the blood and contribute to the prevention of arteriosclerosis.

4.Helps reduce stress

Fermented foods such as miso, Natto, bran pickles, kimchi, and yogurt contain a substance called GABA, a type of natural amino acid. As a neurotransmitter, GABA is said to have an anti-stress effect that calms the excitement of the brain, suppresses irritability, and relaxes.

The Natural menopause supplement from fermented soybean

Some clinical researches have reported that Japanese women have far lighter menopause experience. One of its key is Miso, fermented soy paste. (It is a commonsense in Japan.) Juveriente®’s Effisoy, launched in 2016, brings you the essence of it to you.

Fermented foods are often hard to eat for people of other dietary cultures. But you can take the essence easily through the supplement. Effisoy is the only supplement brand to bring you fermented soy extract outside Japan. This is only natural food, and we don’t call it “therapy,” but it may be your answer to how to treat menopause depression naturally.

Here are some of the real product reviews in our Amazon shop.

“Restful sleep finally!!”, “I Am Now Free of Hot Flashes!!”, “Lifesaver”

LEARN MORE About Effisoy, made of fermented soy bean germ
The only supplement to contain fermented soy isoflavone beside Japan.

Intestinal Environment – the key of your good health and beauty

We get nutrients from the food we eat every day to survive. We take necessary nutrients into the body through the small intestine and discharge unnecessary things such as food waste as feces. Defecation is a critical activity in our lives.

However, stool contains a lot of information that informs the condition of the large intestine. Feces, a barometer of health, is 80% water. In constipation, water is down to around 70%, and it may be more than 90% in diarrhea. 20% of ingredients other than water are “food debris,” “peeled intestinal mucosa,” and “intestinal bacteria.” Each gram of stool contains 1 trillion of these intestinal bacteria, and the type of bacteria varies from person to person.

The approximately 1,000 types influence the intestinal environment and 100 to 1,000 trillion intestinal bacteria living in the intestine. Intestinal bacteria include good bacteria that have a positive effect on people, harmful bacteria that have a terrible impact on people, and opportunistic bacteria that work in favor of good or bad bacteria.

The “intestinal environment” is determined by the balance of these three intestinal bacteria, and the state in which good bacteria work predominantly is called a “good intestinal environment” or a “good intestinal environment.” Depending on the power of good bacteria that work well and harmful bacteria that work negatively, the health condition of the intestines changes day by day.

How can I restrict eating at Hara-Hachibunme (by 80% full)?

Benefits of “Hara-Hachibunme” (restricted eating)

As I explained in “Restricted eating lengthens your life?”, restricted eating only up to 80% or so helps your health in addition to weight management.

While it prevents obesity and disease by suppressing dietary calorie intake, it is also helpful as an anti-aging.

There is something called the “sirtuin gene” in our body.
Another name for the sirtuin gene is the “longevity gene” because it works to suppress cell aging, and a certain amount of calorie restriction activates it. In other words, you can expect the effect of preserving youthfulness by eating the eighth half of your stomach.

Tips for stopping your eating at “Hara-Hachibunme” (80% full)

If you are overeating and always fall feeling full, try incorporating the following into your diet.

Increase chewing frequency

It is very effective to chew food well and eat it to suppress it at 80% of the stomach.
A longer time to savor and eat will stimulate the satiety center and prevent overeating.

Also, by chewing well, a large amount of the digestive enzyme called amylase is secreted, which improves digestion and reduces the burden on the stomach and intestines.

Put down your knife, fork, and spoon after each bite.

To increase the number of chewing times, try to put your tableware down after each bite.

Fast eaters keep their tableware on from the beginning to the end of their meal.
Carrying food to your mouth one after another leads to overeating.

Once you are used to putting your tableware down after each bite, you will naturally become conscious of chewing well, and your eating pace will slow down.
As a result, the signal of the satiety center will be transmitted well, and it will be suppressed with only 80% of your stomach.

Cut the material hard and large.

Cutting food materials such as vegetables hard and large creates a chewy texture in your cooking. You can naturally increase the number of chews and prevent overeating.

We also recommend adding chewy nuts, beans, sesame seeds, etc., to accent your dishes.

Anyway, chewing well and eating are effective in keeping your stomach full.

Increase vegetables, seaweed, and mushrooms

Vegetables, seaweed, and mushrooms contain a lot of dietary fiber, so it’s hard to swallow them if you don’t chew them well.
Taking advantage of this feature, you can naturally increase the number of chews by increasing the amount of these in your meal.

Most of them are healthy, so let’s use them in your meals and connect them to your beauty and health.

Drink Soup, water or tea

Liquid will pass your stomach shortly, but your restricted eating. It will swell your stomach temporarily and mitigate your hunger until your satiety center begins to woks.

Serving for one person will also restrict your eating

First, it is effective to prevent overeating by arranging an amount of food that does not cause overeating and deciding “I will not eat anymore”.

Dishes on a platter tend to overeat while picking up this and that.
There are also people who force themselves to eat, saying things like, “It would be a waste if I leave it behind,” or “It’s rude to the person who made it.”

If you decide “only this” from the beginning, such as serving this on a single plate or dividing it into portions for one person instead of serving it on a large plate, you should not end up eating too much.

It is especially effective for those whose satiety center signals are dull.
Let’s prevent overeating by serving the amount that will make you 80% full from the plating.

Let’s finish the meal at the timing of “Hara-Hachibunme” (80% full).

 

The best time to finish your meal is when you feel like you can eat a little more.

In order to go on a diet without overdoing it, and to maintain beauty and health, let’s make it your everyday habit.

Restricted eating lengthens your life?

Japanese health wisdom: Restricted Eating by 20%

The idiom “Hara-Hachibunme” in Japan means “80% full” as a healthy eating habit. They say You don’t need a doctor if you keep “Hara-Hachibunme.” A similar saying in English will be, “Light suppers make long life.”
Since the 1980s, many countries have been scientifically investigating why “Hara-Hachibunme” is good for your health. This study compares the life expectancy of small animals such as rats between a group that eats a limited amount of food and a group that eats as much as it pleases.
For example, in one study conducted in Japan, the average lifespan of mice fed all-you-can-eat was 74 weeks, while that of mice restricted to 80% of their diet was 122 weeks, more than 1.6 times longer. (*1).

(*1) Research by Professor Kazuo Hashimoto and Lecturer Masayoshi Tazume of Tokai University School of Medicine, published in 1990. The study also points out that calorie restriction boosts immunity.

Slowed Cellular Aging

Since then, various studies have confirmed that the “Hara-Hachibunme,” constant restricted eating, can slow cellular aging. They point out that 80% of the stomach is effective in preventing cancer caused by dysfunction of cells, vascular disorders caused by arteriosclerosis (high blood pressure, stroke, myocardial infarction, etc.), and many lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes.
An American study on monkeys, which are more similar to humans, reported that a 30% calorie restriction (at the 7th minute of the abdomen) improved body fat, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, triglyceride levels, etc.

The same benefit for human

So, does the benefit of “Hara-Hachibunme” apply to humans? There is an interesting report about this.
Since 1991, in the United States, a survival experiment has been carried out in which eight researchers live a self-sufficient life in a dome called Biosphere 2. Initially, it was an investigation related to space development, premised on living in an artificial environment called a dome when humans migrate to a planet other than Earth.
This experiment failed in its original purpose, but on the other hand, there was an unexpected by-product, regarding restricted eating.
The low harvesting yield in the dome limited the researchers’ diet by 25% less than their planned meals. The daily energy intake was about 1800kcal. As a result, not only did they lose weight, but almost all values ​​related to lifestyle-related diseases, such as blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure, also decreased.

Restricted eating extend your life expectancy as well as your healthy life expectancy.

In this way, they found from monkey studies and reports in Biosphere 2 that “Hara-Hachibunme” (restricted eating) may extend not only life expectancy but also healthy life expectancy (healthy period without disease). (*2).

(*2) Professor Emeritus Roy Walford of the University of California, who participated in the Biosphere 2 project, later focused on the relationship between calorie restriction and health and proposed a diet menu that would prevent malnutrition even with calorie restriction, etc.

(from https://www.healthcare.omron.co.jp/resource/column/life/35.html)

Menopause and Fatigue

Approximately 70% of menopausal women suffer from “menopause and fatigue”.

What are your symptoms?

After strenuous exercise or long periods of backbreaking work, we all feel tired and lethargic. However, it usually goes away with rest and sleep. However, women in the menopausal generation may feel tired all the time. Hobbies and small errands that you used to enjoy are not enjoyable for you any more. “I don’t want to do them,” “It’s troublesome to meet people,” and “It’s a hassle to go out.” It leads to a decrease in motivation and energy, depression, and irritability. There are many things around the menopause and fatigue.

What is the cause?

As women age, their ovarian function declines, and estrogen (female hormone) levels drop sharply. A part of the brain, the hypothalamus, controls the secretion of estrogen. But it can’t make the body secrete estrogen no matter how many commands it issues. Eventually, it confuses the hypothalamus. In this way, the brain and body become unbalanced due to hormonal imbalance during menopause. (About five years before and after menopause).  Menopause is when the body and brain work hard to restore this imbalance. It causes hot flashes (hot flashes, hot flashes, sweating), coldness, stiff shoulders, dizziness, ringing in the ears, headaches, depression, and anxiety.  A variety of emotional and physical disorders can occur.

In addition, menopause is also a time of significant changes in life, such as increased work responsibilities, nursing care for parents, and independence for children. These stresses in life can be a burden on the mind and body without knowing it. Most people will recover after menopause, so it is essential to spend time in a “slow rhythm” without blaming yourself or worrying that you may be lazy for not being able to care for yourself properly. Menopause and fatigue is a natural issue. Also, during this period, physical strength declines, and health changes are significant, so it is crucial to keep in mind healthy habits that you can do without overdoing them in your daily life, such as eating and exercise.

Disturbance of autonomic nerves

*The hypothalamus in the brain controls the secretion of hormones, but at the same time, it also plays a role in adjusting the autonomic nervous system. In this way, when the hormones are imbalanced in menopause and the hypothalamus is confused, the balance of autonomic nerves is disturbed. The autonomic nervous system has active sympathetic nerves that work mainly during the day and parasympathetic nerves that work at night for relaxation. During menopause, the autonomic nervous system tends to be disturbed due to hormonal imbalance, but keeping regular routines and taking care of breathing will help adjust the autonomic nervous system.

Breathing stimulates the sympathetic nerves with inhaling and the parasympathetic nerves with exhaling. So it will put your body into sleep mode, that you take deep breaths while consciously exhaling slowly before going to bed. A good rest is essential to alleviate sluggishness and fatigue. Please be aware of this.

easy self-care against menopause and fatigue

Aglycon-type isoflavone has shown to have an effect similar to drinking estrogen. It is one of the great ideas to take supplements with this special isoflavone. Take supplements or get them from your diet.
(Juveriente®’s EFFISOY® is the only supplement to contain the Aglycon isoflavone outside Japan.)

It would be better to take vitamins that are effective against the issues from menopause and fatigue from well-balanced foods, such as vitamins B1, C, and E, in your daily diet.

Foods that contain a lot of each are as follows.

(Vitamin) B1: pork, eel, liver, brown rice
C: green and yellow vegetables (broccoli, red peppers, etc.), fruits (strawberries, lemons, etc.), potatoes (potatoes, sweet potatoes, etc.), green tea
E: Nuts (almonds, etc.), avocados, green and yellow vegetables (pumpkin, mulukhiyah, etc.), olive oil

If you continue to have only sharrow sleep, you won’t be able to get rid of fatigue enough, and you won’t feel well. Avoid being sleep-deprived by keeping moderate exercises and adjusting your daily rhythm.
Menopausal women tend to get tired quickly when their sleep is short because of the lack of estrogen.

Support from family and friends is also essential. It would be nice if people knew that menopause is easy to get tired and that they could feel free to talk about their worries. And ask for help with household chores when you need it.

Preventing falls at home

A fall that may only cause bruises or scrapes in a young person can significantly impact an older person’s life. In addition, fractures due to falls are likely to lead to bedridden, and women prone to osteoporosis have an increased risk of fractures. Preventing falls at home is critical and it requires your cautions.

Falls at home often lead to becoming bedridden.

Elderly people and households with elderly people must be careful about “falling.” You may take tripping and falling at home too lightly as a common accident, but as you get older, your physical function declines, and your muscles weaken. Compared to when they were young, they are less able to move their bodies, and it is not uncommon for them to become more prone to stumble over only small steps or to become bedridden after a fall. Even a minor fall can lead to the need for nursing care.

Fractures can lead to bedridden or requiring nursing care…

Injuries and bruises aren’t the only consequences of a fall. As you get older, the risk of fractures from falls increases. Above all, attention is necessary for “femoral neck fracture,” which is likely to occur due to falls.
A femoral neck fracture happens near the hip joint (groin). Even a minor fall, such as missing a step on the stairs at home, can result in a broken bone. Surgery and long periods of bed rest may be sometimes necessary, and the muscles may become weak and bedridden.
As a result, the muscles of the legs and lower back become weak, and even after the fracture has healed, walking becomes difficult, and in many cases, it requires nursing care.

Note that osteoporosis increases the risk of fractures.

Muscle weakness is one of the reasons why older adults are more likely to fall.
The prevalence of osteoporosis, which reduces the strength of bones, increases with age, and falls make fractures more likely. Osteoporosis is more common in women than men, and its prevalence is about three times higher than in men. Falls are likely to occur in familiar places such as living rooms and bedrooms, so it is necessary to take adequate measures to mitigate the impact of osteoporosis.

Beauty and Bones

Bone health issues by aging

If you go out less due to self-restraint and spend less time in the sun and walking, you will be worried about losing bone mass. If such a life is prolonged, there is concern about health problems due to bone loss.
You will also need to know the critical relationship of beauty and bones.

Middle-aged and older women are more likely to develop osteoporosis due to a rapid decrease in bone density due to the effects of decreased female hormones. And even the younger generation tends to have less bone savings due to lifestyle changes.

The relation between the beauty and bones

Bones not only support the body but are also closely related to the functions of internal organs, such as the flexibility of blood vessels, the ability to lower blood sugar, and the function of the kidneys. In terms of beauty matter, the decrease of facial bone volume causes “sagging and wrinkles” and affects the “appearance impression.” Keeping your bones healthy is good for your body and appearance.

Eat well-balanced meals three times a day.

Calcium intake is vital for bone health, but it’s not the only one. Various nutrients are also required, such as vitamin D, which promotes calcium absorption, and vitamin K, which helps calcium uptake into bones. It is crucial to take in enough energy and nutrients.

Skipping meals increases your chances of getting the energy and nutrients you need.

balanced diet
What is a balanced diet
Staple food (rice, bread, noodles),
Side dishes (vegetables, mushrooms, potatoes, seaweed dishes),
Main dish (meat, fish, egg, soybean dish)
A complete meal.

In addition, if you try not to bias the food in your daily diet as much as possible, you can ingest various nutrients in each food.
In particular, to increase calcium intake, it is possible to incorporate green and yellow vegetables such as spinach, seaweed such as hijiki, and soy products such as tofu.

If it’s not easy to take soy foods in your daily diet, you can try supplements like Effisoy® by Juveriente®.

Healthy diet will lead to your healthy bones, and eventually your beauty.

What is Umami? The key to reduce your calories

Reduce your calories by utilizing umami

Do you know the term “Umami“? It is from a Japanese term, meaning the taste element to add or deepen tastefulness in foods. If you know it from brand names like “Umami burger”, you may not have a healthy impression about it. Apart from such a commercial utilization, though, it is actually a key to reduce your calories. It adds thickness and tastefulness to your dishes without oil, sugar nor salt.

Umami is an independent basic taste

Umami is one of the five basic tastes.
Umami is one of the five basic tastes.

We have traditionally known 4 basic tastes, sweetness, saltiness, bitterness and sourness.

Japanese people have traditionally used “dashi”, some food extracts to add or amplify tastefulness in their cooking. The essence of dashi is Umami and it is actually the 5th basic element.

How Japanese people use “dashi”?

3 major dashi (umami extract) bases in Japan are konbu seaweed, dried bonito shavings and dried shiitake mushroom. The usage is simple. For example; They put some dried bonito shavings in to boiled water for a minute or two. Then they take out the residue after the extraction. They cook miso soup with this hot water. Miso, fermented soy paste, has nice taste and flavor on it’s own. But the dashi will deepen and organize the whole taste of the miso soup.

How scientists found it as actual substances and an independent basic taste?

Japanese scientists found umami as actual substances in the major dashi bases in the early 20th century. Glutamic acid from konbu seaweed, isonic acid from dried bonito shavings and gualynic acid from konbu seaweed.

They considered it as an independent taste element beside other basic ones like saltiness, sweetness, etc. But Western scholars didn’t believe it. According to their thought then, it was merely the tastefulness by the complex of other basic taste elements.

In 2002, they found the receptor of umami on human tong. It is a common recognition now that umami is the fifth basic taste element after saltiness, sweetness, sourness and bitterness.

How can you reduce your calories with umami?

They found it from the Japanese “dashi” culture. But Western foods also has their own umami bases, like fond or broth.

It may be hard for you to try new tastes from a foreign dietary culture. It will be easy for you to utilize vegetable broth and reduce sugar, salt and oil.

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