The Geisha Diet: What’s Behind the Magic Fat Loss Journey
In art and literature, the image of a geisha is a recognized standard of female beauty. They say that the main secret of her attractiveness is a special diet. What kind of diet is this and how to follow it?
Who Are Geishas
Not everyone knows that the first geishas were… men. They were actors and musicians of the Kabuki theater. They worked at banquets, entertaining guests. Appeared in the 17th century and were common in Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo.
The first female geisha in 1761 was Kasen from the Ogiya lodge in Yoshiwara. Over time, only representatives of the fair sex began to become geishas.
At that time, there were two types of geisha: shiro-geisha (“white geisha”) – her duties included entertaining guests, and korobi-geisha (“tipping geisha”). She could also provide carnal pleasures. In 1779, the geisha profession acquired official status and began to obey certain rules, one of which was a ban on intimate services.
Geisha began to hold banquets in tea houses, hotels and restaurants. Guests of both sexes were entertained with small talk, Japanese dance or singing. Modern geishas have the same responsibilities today. They are easy to recognize: they usually wear kimonos and wear traditional Japanese makeup and hairstyles.
On a note! There are few geishas left in Japan today. If in the 1920s there were about 80 thousand of them throughout the country, then in 2018 they could hardly be counted a thousand.
Traditional Japanese Geisha Diet: What Are the Benefits?
The traditional diet of Japanese people and geishas in particular differs in many ways from the Western style. It is famous among experts for its positive impact on health.
The menu is dominated by foods high in fiber and low in fat, which is ideal for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.
Following the Geisha Diet’s principles for weight loss can be as rewarding as hitting the jackpot in a live blackjack game, offering both health benefits and exciting moments of success.
The most important elements of the Japanese diet are adherence to certain rules.
Eat Small Portions
In traditional tea ceremonies, food is served in small bowls. Several dishes are offered for the meal, but the portion of each is small. This helps you enjoy the taste of food and get the most nutrients from different dishes.
From a health perspective, this approach helps maintain stable blood sugar levels and prevents overeating, which can lead to weight gain.
Prefer Seasonal Products
The Japanese prefer fresh food. Their diet contains almost no shelf-stable foods, with the exception of rice and all kinds of sauces. Food is usually prepared before serving and only uses local ingredients.
Their menu often includes fresh and pickled cabbage, carrots and cucumbers, and specific plants include daikon, lotus, sweet potato and bamboo.
Prepare Healthy Side Dishes
The main ingredient of Japanese cuisine is rice. At the same time, the Japanese prefer those varieties that have increased stickiness. After cooking, this rice gathers into small lumps that are convenient to eat with chopsticks.
As for the variety of rice, it can be either white or brown. But for those who care about their health, it is better to give preference to brown rice – it contains more vitamins and microelements, and healthy fiber.
An alternative to rice in dishes can be noodles: wheat ramen, buckwheat soba or udon.
Lean On Fish and Seafood
Residents of Japan almost do not eat meat, but fish, seafood and seaweed are constantly present in their menu. These foods are rich in beneficial substances, including omega-3 fatty acids, easily digestible protein, manganese, selenium, zinc and iodine, which are essential for the health of the nervous, endocrine and cardiovascular systems.
These products can be served either raw (sashimi) or quickly and lightly fried or steamed. They are low in calories, making them an excellent choice for those looking to lose weight.
Regularly consume pro- and prebiotics
Traditional Japanese foods such as soy sauce, miso, tempeh, natto beans, and tofu have beneficial effects on digestive health by increasing the number of beneficial bacteria in the intestines and thereby improving bowel function.
Their regular use helps those who want to lose weight to lose weight and keeps those who have already achieved their goals in shape.
Drink Green Tea
In Japan, tea ceremonies are often held at sunrise. A refreshing cup of drink in the morning can help wake you up and invigorate you, increasing alertness and energy levels.
And by continuing to drink tea throughout the day, due to its high antioxidant content, you can reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases and protect the body from free radical attacks, which are associated with premature aging.
Important! When people talk about the benefits of the traditional geisha diet, this is the diet they most often mean. It has no contraindications (except for allergies and intolerance to certain products) and is considered healthy. It can be followed for a long period of time.
But there is also a geisha diet for weight loss. And it has completely different properties!
Geisha Diet for Weight Loss: What Is It?
If the traditional Japanese geisha diet appeared a long time ago and is widely known, then the geisha diet for weight loss arose relatively recently. It is unknown who its creator is. They say that these were “folk nutritionists.”
Although the diet has very strict rules, it has already gained fans.
Following the diet for 5-7 days promises to get rid of 5 kilograms or more. And the diet really helps to lose excess weight, but the price of this victory is quite high.
Given the pronounced inferiority of this diet due to a lack of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, you can stick to it for no longer than five days. At the same time, leaving the diet should be smooth and gradual.
What Can You Eat On The Geisha Diet for Weight Loss?
The geisha diet for weight loss allows you to consume only three foods: rice, green tea and cow’s milk. At the same time, each of them has special requirements:
The rice should be brown. It is prepared by boiling without salt and oil. Cow’s milk should be chosen with moderate fat content – ideally 1.5%, but 2.5% is allowed. You can add sugar to green tea.
Snacks during the diet are prohibited. There are only three main meals. The last of these should be planned no later than 2-3 hours before bedtime.
At its core, the “geisha diet” is an ordinary mono-diet, in which the basis of the diet is a certain type of low-calorie foods: brown rice, milk, green tea. Each product has its own characteristics.
Brown rice is a healthy food with a low glycemic index, rich in fiber, magnesium, zinc, iodine and selenium. From the point of view of benefits for the microbiota, this is the best product. But at the same time, you need to understand that if you use it incorrectly – do not process it well before cooking, do not soak it, do not chew it thoroughly and drink little water – then a binding effect may occur, which will lead to constipation. Additionally, if a person suffers from bacterial or fungal overgrowth (SIBO or CIGR), this product may cause bloating and gas.
Green tea is a healthy drink with high antioxidant properties. It improves kidney function and removes excess water. It contains less caffeine than black tea, which means it does not excite the nervous system as much. In addition, the l-threonine it contains has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the nervous system and reduces the risk of developing diabetes. However, the ability of green tea to promote weight loss is controversial. Some beneficial effects may be due to caffeine.
Milk is a product that is not suitable for everyone. The casein protein it contains is a very strong proinflammatory factor that can trigger a cascade of inflammatory reactions in the body. Milk also contains sugar – lactose, which can disrupt the microbiotic composition.
The geisha diet involves a short, but very strict period of restrictions. If a person quits before he has formed the right eating habits, he will not only gain everything back, but will also gain a couple of extra pounds. In addition, entering a diet without understanding the state of the body can be dangerous to health.
