The Okinawa Diet and Hormones
It is no secret that the Japanese live healthy, vibrant and long lives. For years this was attributed to exercise, the Japanese water, weather and genes. Well, now the secret is out. On the island of Okinawa, the people who live there know the secrets to healthy living. Their diet plays an integral part of their lives and is the chief reason for their longevity. For the women of Okinawa, menopause is not a difficult stage of their lives. This is because they get enough activity and exercise and their diet is rich in phytoestrogens, a gentler type of estrogen for the body. In this way, we could say that this is also a healthy hormone diet for menopause weight loss.
Okinawa is a small island located between the coast of Japan and Taiwan. On this tiny island, living to the age of a hundred years is the norm and this is chiefly due to the dietary habits. Although eating an Okinawa diet will not always extend years to your life, it will certainly help you lead a healthy life and balance your hormones. For people who are having problems with menopause weight gain and loss and balancing hormone levels, the best news is that this hormone diet is not only good for hormone balance but also helps you reduce weight and is often known as a low calorie Okinawa diet. Many studies have shown that Okinawans not only age gracefully but have an average body mass index of only 20.4.
What is the Okinawa diet?
The Okinawa Hormone Diet Pyramid
The Okinawa diet overall is low in calories, low in fat and high in nutrition. The diet is very low in fat and sugars but high in quality proteins. Unlike the Mediterranean diet, the amount of sea food is also low. Red meat is rarely consumed Furthermore, the diet does not encourage consumption of eggs or other dairy products in large amounts. Whole grains are also featured making this diet high in fiber, something we all need in menopause.
Tofu, soya and legumes play a major part of the Okinawa diet. Vegetables are a key ingredient. Okinawans eat close to five to seven vegetables a day which include onions, cabbage, zucchini, sweet potatoes and green peppers. Many other vegetables are also allowed and part of this hormone diet. Between two to four portions of fruits are eaten per day, as well as tofu and other kinds of soya, green tea, and seaweed Consuming fish makes this hormone diet high in Omega-3s. Like the Mediterranean diet, Okinawans recommend enjoying the meal. Eating should be an experience and one should appreciate the different flavors and spices. Eating slowly helps overeating and increases satisfaction. The diet is carotenoids, anti-oxidants and essential vitamins and minerals, all good for staying healthy, living longer and balancing your hormones. Like all the hormone diets we have written about here, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish and protein play a major role. Add regular exercise to this and you will ease through menopause. Quitting smoking and reducing alcohol consumption will also help immensely. If you still experience some of the nasty menopause symptoms, then you should check with your bioidentical doctor about testing your hormone levels and supplementing with bioidentical hormones if you need to.
But back to the other aspects of Okinawa diet. Meals are garnished with spices such as mint, rosemary, oregano, sesame seeds or chili flakes. These spices can add flavor, increase nutritional value, have zero calories and some even have health benefits.
Unlike the North American diet, the Okinawa diet has much smaller portions. There is no supersizing with the Okinawa diet. The aim is to eat small portions or eat half of what you are actually served. This is a tradition. In the home, Okinawans usually have small plates and bowls and miniature cups. Downsizing is the way to better health - when it comes to the Okinawa diet.
Another major difference between the American and Okinawa diet is the lack of meat. Instead, Okinawa diet is a mixture of sea food and tofu. By getting rid of meat you eliminate saturated fats, high calories and replace it with protein content derived from soya, tofu and fish but you are consuming fewer calories. Tofu is also known to have medicinal value and has phytoestrogen prooperties and is used by Japanese to cure a variety of ailments, including menopause.
We highly recommend the Okinawa diet. It is never too late to start eating healthily. While it has a lot of health benefits, the diet also tastes great. For a hormone diet which is simple to follow and not too expensive to buy the foods, this is one of the best diets in the world. The longevity of the Okinawans is evidence of the health benefits of this diet.
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admin @ November 1, 2009