| Here is one thing that has kept Westerners | | | | featherweight, lightweight, middleweight and |
| scratching their heads - why are Asians generally | | | | heavyweight foods. As their names suggest, |
| fit? Specifically, why don't Japanese people get | | | | these food are categorized according to how light |
| fat? | | | | or heavy they are in terms of calorie content. |
| With the exemption of Sumo Wrestlers, the | | | | Featherweight foods are naturally lowest in calorie. |
| bodies of Japanese people are, in general, healthy | | | | These include green tea and vegetables such as |
| looking, even ectomorphic in some respects. What | | | | asparagus. Lightweight and middleweight foods are |
| is their secret?--Perhaps the Okinawa Diet. | | | | moderately packed with calories. They are |
| Okinawa Diet is a commercially available diet that | | | | standard fares such as brown rice, lean red meat, |
| is patterned after the traditional eating behaviors | | | | fish and hummus. Heavyweights are where |
| of old people of who inhabit the Okinawa Islands. | | | | so-called sinful foods are categorized, which include |
| These people are reputed for having very long | | | | desserts and deep-fried foods. |
| lifespan, very low heart disease incidence (at 80% | | | | Having said these, the diet advocates regular |
| or less) and very low cancer rate of 50%. People | | | | consumption of featherweight and lightweight |
| who follow the traditional Okinawa Diet benefit | | | | foods. Do not be mistaken though as it is not |
| from these on top of having a rather high chance | | | | purely focused on restricting calorie intake. |
| of staying lean throughout their lives. | | | | Instead, it gives more emphasis on eating foods |
| As a weight-loss plan, this diet gives heavy | | | | that have low calorie density yet possess high |
| emphasis on the density of calories contained in | | | | nutritive value. |
| foods. There are four food groups, which includes | | | | |