Are Vegetables Really Good for You? This Book Has the Answers

It's long been said that a vegetable-centric diet is healthy, but how many people truly understand how it works in the body? And recipe books that delve that deep are rare. We decided to focus on "dietary fiber," one of the powers of vegetables, and its close relationship with the gut. Of course, vegetables have many benefits, and there's much we want to convey, but through this recipe book, we wanted to communicate the "invisible power" that vegetables exert within our bodies.

Have you heard of "gut immunity"? The small intestine is a vital organ, concentrating over 90 percent of the body's immune system. And dietary fiber is indispensable for maintaining gut health. For more details, please read the columns in the recipe book (laughs).

A Transformation of Body and Mind, Starting with Food

I was frail from childhood and suffered from autonomic nervous system imbalance due to stress at age 14. Approaching my thirties, my thyroid would swell multiple times a month, causing high fever, and I took medication each time. Back then, amidst busy days, I only thought about quick meals. But I grew tired of that lifestyle and didn't want to go to the hospital anymore. To escape that life, I turned my attention to food. I vaguely understood that diet played a crucial role in health, but I lacked interest and neglected it. After extensive research on food and health, I discovered "Enzyme Nutrition" (Note 1). The concept was eye-opening in every way. By putting it into practice, my condition improved dramatically, and I decided to study Enzyme Nutrition seriously.

One day, I read a recommendation for a masticating juicer in a book by Natasha Staggard and decided to try drinking fresh juice made from apples and carrots in the morning. I used to feel sluggish and heavy every afternoon, but simply switching my breakfast to juice made me feel less tired. Also, since I was juicing them raw, I naturally became more particular about the ingredients. I didn't want chemicals like pesticides or additives in my body, so I started choosing organically grown produce. You might think it's a bit expensive. But I consider that money a contribution to farmers who can continue organic farming sustainably, making it a bargain. As fields expand and demand increases even slightly, such vegetables and fruits will become more accessible and affordable. It's like an investment in the future. I often buy vegetables from places like "Natural Harmony" and "Hana" in Musashi Koyama. These people love not only the farmers but also the soil. That's why I trust them and buy from them.

Note 1: Enzyme Nutrition is a theory that considers enzymes as one of the essential nutrients for maintaining life.

Recipe Book: "Healthy & Yummy: Fiber Recipes for Beautiful Skin" (2)

Ecology You Can Practice Without Sacrificing Style

After that, I started paying attention not only to what I ate but also to what I put on my body. Especially shampoos, soaps, and detergents – products containing surfactants. They return to the ocean, fish eat them, and we eat those fish. Everything in the environment is cyclical. I cannot pollute the earth just to make myself beautiful. I don't want to be complicit in that.

I originally loved fashion and worked in that industry, but I couldn't switch my clothing to natural and organic materials. In that regard, I can't shift to ecological practices. However, the ecology I can practice is "changing what I put into my body." If you try to change everything at once, it can become stressful, so it's important to start within your means. Even if not everything is ecological, if each of us practices even a little bit of ecology, the world will change. I'm sure of it.

Expanding the Joy of Food Through Imagination

I felt that existing recipe books were overloaded with information, making it unclear what they were trying to convey. That's precisely why "HEALTHY&YUMMY: Fiber Recipes for Beautiful Skin" focuses on the theme of "dietary fiber" and conveys only the essential points.

Also, the design is simple, almost unlike a typical recipe book (I even fought with the publisher over this design). We wanted readers to use their imagination and enjoy it more by adopting a simple design. The art director I commissioned for this design is someone who designs with love, considering the reader's feelings, without imposing their own ego. We wanted the readers to be healthier and happier, and to use their imagination to achieve that... "Healthy & Yummy" embodies these aspirations of the creators. The circle on the cover represents a small window in a kitchen. I hope you'll peek into your own world through the small window in your kitchen.

"Beautiful skin is created by a beautiful gut." That is what we want to convey to all women. Give up one expensive cream or serum and use that money to buy organically grown vegetables. You might achieve the results you desire with every meal. I guarantee it.

"HEALTHY&YUMMY: Fiber Recipes for Beautiful Skin"
Price | 1,260 yen
Publisher | Kirajenne