It’s no secret that the Japanese are incredibly healthy. But recent studies have uncovered that even their drinking habits might be healthy. While getting drinks after work might spell trouble for a person’s health in any other country, it’s not always so in Japan. Japan’s favorite drink, sake, made from fermented rice, has been shown to come with several health benefits. So if you’re looking for a new favorite drink, look no further than sake.
1. It Can Stop The Growth Of Cancerous Cells
Sake contains certain amino acids which have been shown to stop the growth of cancerous cells and kill them. The Japanese National Cancer Centre studied a group of 265,000 men over a period of 17 years to observe the effects drinking sake had on their health. They concluded that the group who drank sake everyday had a significantly lower risk of mortality than those who didn’t. Sake is particularly effective at stopping the progression of bladder, lung, prostate and uterine cancer.
2. Reduces The Risk Of Heart Disease
The best (and most fun way) to reduce your cholesterol, could be to drink sake. Sake reduces your body’s cholesterol level and prevents the formation of blood clots. When you drink sake, your body produces more of a substance called urokinase. Urokinase is known for its ability to dissolve blood clots and medication to stimulate its production is often given to people prone to them. Since sake naturally triggers the release of urokinase, it could also help in preventing blood clots.
3. It Can Delay Osteoporosis
Milk might be second best to sake when it comes to preventing osteoporosis. Sake contains a host of amino acids which can aid the development and maintenance of skeletal muscle. Osteoporosis is a very real concern for older women, so drink sake in moderation along with the right diet and exercise regime if you want to maintain your bone mass.
4. It Regulates Blood Sugar
High blood sugar levels in diabetics is extremely dangerous because they lack adequate insulin to counter it. Sake contains an insulin activator which could trigger the body to produce more insulin. This can control sugar levels in the blood and ensure there aren’t any sudden spikes.
5. It Can Treat Allergies
Pollen allergies got you down this summer? Try a few shots of sake. Sake contains enzymes which block Cathepsin B, the substance which is responsible for most of our allergic responses. Applied topically, it can even give you relief from itchy eczema patches as some of its moisturizing compounds can counter dryness.
6. Keeps You Looking Young
Maybe the reason why the Japanese remain ageless is because of their love for sake. Sake contains powerful antioxidants in the form of ferulic acids which can protect skin cells from the degenerative effects of oxidation. Ferulic acid also works as a mild UV light absorber so it could shield your skin from some of the sun’s harmful rays. That’s no excuse to skip sunscreen though.
7. It Can Nourish Your Skin
Adding a shot of sake to your baths could keep your skin glowing. Sake has important vitamins, amino acids and skin moisturizing compounds like glycerol which can prevent dry skin. So have a shot of sake and soak in a sake bath if you want to unwind after a long, tiring day.
8. It Can Brighten Your Skin
Japan is obsessed with white skin so it’s not surprising that their favorite drink has also been seen to brighten skin. Sake contains kojic acid which is one of the most powerful natural melanin blockers known today. Applying sake on your skin could treat hyperpigmentation in the form of acne scars, age spots and melasma.
