Health & Life

Japanese expert guides on losing 30kg in a year, curing fatty liver with tofu and cabbage

Tofu and cabbage are two affordable and highly effective foods for weight loss and fat reduction.

25 February, 2024

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Mr. K is a Japanese man, over 33 years old. He owns an orthodontic center, so his eating habits are irregular and imbalanced. Mr. K often eats instant noodles and white rice, causing his weight to exceed 145kg at times. He had to be hospitalized due to herpes zoster and diabetes.

Dr. Satoshi Ogata, a liver expert at the Japan Gastrointestinal Surgery Society, said that Mr. K was admitted to the hospital with a height of 175.6cm and a weight of 127.9kg. The body fat percentage was 34.9% and he had moderate fatty liver disease.

Mr. K has both diabetes and fatty liver disease because these two conditions are related to each other. Diabetes can exacerbate fatty liver disease, and vice versa. Fatty liver disease weakens the effect of insulin and can lead to high blood sugar. About half of patients with fatty liver disease are at risk of developing diabetes.

Dr. Satoshi Ogata talking about weight loss with cabbage and tofu

Dr. Ogata Tetsu advised Mr. K to eat small pieces of cabbage and tofu for each meal. The daily menu can be varied with grilled salmon, stewed chicken with vegetables, etc., but the amount of sugar should be limited to 20 to 40 grams per meal and starch should be restricted.

One month later, Mr. K lost 5.4 kg, and 17.4 kg in six months. Including the time spent in the hospital, he lost a total of 30 kg in one year. After that, his weight gradually decreased, and his fatty liver disease also improved. Dr. Satoshi Ogata said that the key to Mr. K’s successful weight loss was cabbage and tofu.

What are the benefits of cabbage and tofu?

Dr. Satoshi Ogata explained that dietary fat is the main cause of fatty liver. 14% of the accumulated fat in the liver is directly affected by the fat in the diet, 60% is fat dissolved from subcutaneous and visceral fat in the body, and 26% is fat synthesized in the liver from carbohydrates.

Therefore, a diet high in carbohydrates, especially refined carbohydrates such as rice, wheat, and sugar, can increase the risk of fatty liver.

In contrast, cabbage is rich in fiber and vitamin U, which helps to nourish the stomach and promote fat metabolism in the liver. Cabbage can be eaten raw or cooked. On the other hand, tofu is rich in plant-based protein. 100 grams of tofu contains about 7 grams of protein and almost no sugar. It is one of the best foods to limit carbohydrate intake.

In addition to the cabbage and tofu diet, Dr. Satoshi Ogata also recommends that patients who want to lose weight pay attention to:

1. Keep carbohydrate intake between 20 and 40 grams per meal

Mr. K, a patient of Dr. Satoshi Ogata, does not eat rice but only potatoes and vegetables, as they have low sugar and starch content. In addition, baked sweet potatoes can be a good choice because although they have a similar carbohydrate content to rice, baked sweet potatoes contain double the amount of fiber, which is beneficial for weight loss.

2. Cabbage can be replaced with other vegetables

If there is no cabbage available or if you don’t like eating cabbage, you can use other vegetables such as bean sprouts, bell peppers, mushrooms, etc. Steaming is the best cooking method to preserve the nutrients in these vegetables.

Frequently asked questions

The Japanese expert, Dr. Haruo Ozaki, recommends a diet and lifestyle plan that focuses on consuming tofu and cabbage. This plan, as outlined in the article, helped him lose 30kg in a year and cure his fatty liver.

Dr. Ozaki’s plan involves incorporating tofu and cabbage into your daily meals. Tofu is a low-calorie, protein-rich food that keeps you satiated, while cabbage is high in fiber and vitamins, aiding digestion and overall health. The article suggests specific recipes and preparation methods for these ingredients to make the diet enjoyable and sustainable.

In addition to weight loss, the tofu and cabbage diet is said to improve overall health. It can help lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels, reduce the risk of heart disease, and boost energy levels. The diet is also affordable and easy to follow, making it accessible to most people.

While the diet emphasizes tofu and cabbage, it doesn’t restrict other food groups. However, it encourages a balanced approach, recommending moderate portions of carbohydrates, lean proteins, and healthy fats. It also suggests limiting processed foods, added sugars, and excessive alcohol consumption.

The article provides several tips and recipes to make tofu and cabbage delicious. For tofu, it suggests marinating it in a mixture of soy sauce, ginger, and garlic before cooking. As for cabbage, it recommends stir-frying it with a variety of vegetables and spices to create flavorful dishes. Experimenting with different recipes and seasonings can help keep your meals exciting.