March is known for National Nutrition Month in the United States. There is a lot to know about various diets and their health benefits. Nutrition and a healthy diet play an important role responsible for optimal health and wellness.
 
We all know that the Japanese are among the people with higher life expectancy and longevity for both men and women. Along with other factors, the traditional Japanese diet's potential health benefits significantly contribute to the above fact. The Traditional Japanese diet is a rich source of natural nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and other supplements. It contains more fish, soybeans, rice, vegetables, fermented and pickled food items. Plus, it does include a minimal amount of fat, red meat, animal protein, and added sugar, plus a tiny amount of processed food.
 
Note that the traditional Japanese diet emphasizes the use of noodles, rice, tofu, miso (fermented soybean paste), seaweed, natto (fermented soybeans), fruits, fish, and vegetables.  One of the important characteristics of the traditional Japanese diet is the exclusion of artificial flavors and sugar. Umami flavor or taste is used in the diet to mask unwanted tastes and enhance palatability.
 
The traditional Japanese diet contains highly nutritional properties responsible for various health benefits, including aid weight loss, help digestion, support longevity and improve quality of life. This diet is based on "washoku," a Japanese cuisine composed of small, simple, fresh, and seasonal dishes. It is a calorie deficient diet that keeps the Japanese people healthy with higher life expectancy. Plus, remember that the traditional Japanese diet highly resembles the Okinawan diet but has nothing to do with modern Japanese cuisine.
 
Benefits of Traditional Japanese Diet
 
Different health studies and approved sources reported the following health benefits of the Traditional Japanese Diet:
 
1) Supplies Important Nutrients
The traditional Japanese diet is a rich source of essential nutrients for optimal body functions. These nutrients include Vitamins (A, C, E), Minerals (Calcium, Iron, Potassium, and Magnesium), fibers, Carbs, and Proteins. Moreover, the fish and seaweed provide a proper amount of long-chain omega-3 fats that improve cardiovascular, brain, and eye function. Also, the composition of potent antioxidant agents in the diet (Seaweed and Vegetables) protects cellular integrity, removes free toxins, and reduces the risk of several chronic medical conditions.
 
2) Supports Gastrointestinal Health
The traditional Japanese diet helps digestion and prevents the risk of gastrointestinal dysfunctions. It increases the content of fibers that support the growth of gut microbiota and increase stool bulkiness. Thus, decrease the risk of constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating and improve metabolism that promotes gastrointestinal health. Further, healthy gut microbiota reduces the risk of underlying inflammation and other intestinal problems such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and irritable bowel syndrome.
 
3) Aid Weight loss
The traditional Japanese diet is a calorie deficient and fiber-rich diet that helps cut out extra fat content and help weight loss goals. Moreover, it increases the feeling of fullness, suppresses appetite, relieves overeating, and lowers waist circumference, body mass index, and waist-to-hip ratio. Furthermore, it decreases the risk of obesity and overweight that prevents the development of various diseases.
 
3) Improve Vital Organ's Function
The important nutrients in the traditional Japanese diet support and improve vital physiological functions. The high content of omega 3s in the fish decreases the bad cholesterol level and promotes high density or good cholesterol concentration in the body - that helps the prevention of type 2 diabetes and promotes cardiovascular functions. Furthermore, green tea consumption per traditional Japanese diet recommendation delay or improve the symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. 

Conclusion:
In conclusion, the Traditional Japanese diet is highly recommended for optimal wellbeing. It supports life quality, improves longevity, and increases life expectancy. The diet composition is highly nutritious and offers various health benefits. It reduces the risk of certain medical conditions, including cardiovascular dysfunctions, obesity, and diabetes, that help prevent premature death. Thus, we can say that the Traditional Japanese diet is a natural remedy to the current lethal medical conditions associated with an unhealthy diet. 

References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5852749/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/japanese-diet
https://japanahome.com/journal/the-secrets-of-the-healthy-japanese-diet/