Japanese food and carbohydrates go together like sushi and soy sauce. However, those wanting to explore different eating habits might stumble across the ketogenic (or keto for short) diet in Japan. The keto diet is high in fat and incredibly low in carbs, but it’s more than just cutting pasta and bread from your meals.
The aim of keto is to keep your carbs under 20-50 grams (for reference, one medium-sized apple contains around 20 grams of carbs). What Are The Benefits Of A Keto Diet?© Photo by iStock: YuujiWhile the most common reason to follow the keto diet is for weight loss, it can have multiple health benefits. Research suggests it can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and heart disease and help people manage diabetes by improving their insulin sensitivity and lowering cholesterol.
It’s hard to believe that these benefits could derive from such a high-fat diet. By replacing your carbohydrate intake with fat, your body is put into a metabolic state known as ketosis, in which your body produces ketones (by-products of fat breakdown) to use for fuel.While the keto diet is much less commercialized in Japan than in the West, many traditional Japanese dishes are more keto-friendly than you might think.
Please be advised I am not a nutritionist; this content is based on my own experiences and research.Keto-Friendly Japanese DishesMany Japanese dishes have an abundance of fresh vegetables with every serving, all of which change with the season. Below are a few classic Japanese.
