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  • Meet the amazing Takishima Mika, the incredible 92-year-old fitness instructor from Japan.

  • She's Japan's oldest fitness instructor who is still active and she's such an inspiration to all of us.

  • You might be wondering how she keeps herself healthy and energetic at her age.

  • Well, we're here to take a deep dive into Takishima's diet and find out what she eats daily to fuel her energy.

  • So let's go.

  • The first thing Takeshima does in the morning is wake up before 4 a.m., drink a glass of water and go for an exercise.

  • At 4 a.m., she walks four kilometers then in the opposite direction, she jogs three kilometers and then walk another one kilometer.

  • This takes about two hours and it's an impressive way to start the day.

  • After a good workout, she has breakfast at about seven o'clock in the morning.

  • Her breakfast is a well balanced meal, rich in proteins and fermented foods that provide her with probiotics.

  • Let's explore the specific items in her breakfast.

  • One of the key items in her diet is nato. Nato is a traditional Japanese dish consisting of fermented soybeans and characterized by a slimy, sticky and stringy texture.

  • It has many nutritional benefits and is extremely popular in Japan.

  • The smell may be surprising to newcomers but nato is packed with nutrition.

  • Just eating a 100 g portion, you can enjoy 67% of the daily value of manganese, 48% of iron, 27% of magnesium and zinc and also moderate levels of vitamin K, calcium, potassium and selenium among others.

  • Nato contains more probiotics than non fermented soybeans.

  • This reduces unpleasant digestive symptoms and helps your body absorb nutrients more easily.

  • You may think nato is hard to obtain, but in fact, it is easy to make at home.

  • All you need are soybeans and fermented soybean powder to start the fermenting process.

  • These can be easily made in a yogurt maker, but those who prefer not to do it from scratch, you can also buy them easily in a Japanese food store nearby.

  • Along with nato, she also enjoys yogurt which contains a lot of calcium, a mineral necessary for healthy teeth and bones.

  • It's also high in B vitamins, particularly vitamin B12 and riboflavin, both of which may protect against heart disease and certain neural tube birth defects.

  • One cup also provides 28% of your daily phosphorus, 10% for magnesium and 12% for potassium.

  • These minerals are essential for several biological processes such as regulating blood pressure, metabolism and bone health.

  • Takeshima highlights that yogurt is good to wash down the taste of nato and she enjoys yogurt with honey.

  • Let's further explore her comprehensive breakfast spread.

  • She enjoys a refreshing salad with lettuce, broccoli, which she highlights that it's in season together with mini tomatoes and lean ham, which is cooked without oil on a pan.

  • It is truly a balanced diet of fiber, vitamins and protein.

  • Another Japanese secret recipe in her breakfast is tsukemono, Japanese pickles that are served with practically every traditional meal.

  • I'm sure you have encountered them in your last visit to a Japanese restaurant.

  • Specifically, she enjoys nukazuke, which are common household pickles fermented in a mixture of roasted rice bran, salt andkombu, which is a Japanese term for kelp seaweed.

  • Whole vegetables are stirred into the mash and allowed to cure anywhere from a day to several months.

  • The resulting crisp salty and tangy pickles are then rinsed, clean, sliced and served.

  • Nukazuke are rich in lactobacillus and are said to aid in digestion.

  • There are so many different ways to preserve veggies.

  • So why not go and pick your recipe to make your own vegetable preserve which are rich in probiotics to boost your good health?

  • In between her meals, if she is resting at home, Takeshima ensures to add some exercises.

  • Even when watching TV, Takeshima sits with her back completely straight and her stomach drawn in and she always walks around the house on tiptoe.

  • How inspiring is that!

  • Now, let's talk about Takishima's lunch.

  • She keeps it light and refreshing with just one banana and a probiotic drink called Yakult.

  • By not overeating during lunch, she avoids feeling sluggish and tired throughout the day.

  • The banana is a fantastic source of potassium, providing about 9% of the daily recommended intake.

  • Potassium rich foods like bananas help manage blood pressure by helping the body excrete excess sodium.

  • Not only that but bananas are also a source of prebiotics which feed the good bacteria in our gut, making them a perfect match for Yakult.

  • Yakult or Yaku is a Japanese sweetened probiotic milk beverage fermented with the bacteria strain lacticcasia bacillus Casei Shirota.

  • And if you're worried about blood sugar levels, eating less ripe bananas is also an option.

  • So let's take a page out of Takishima's book and keep our lunch light yet nutritious and delicious.

  • Let's talk about Takeshima Mika's hearty dinner.

  • After a long day of teaching fitness classes, she knows the importance of nourishing her body with a healthy balanced meal.

  • Her typical dinner consists of lean proteins such as fish and chicken thigh curry with carrots, served with rice, cooked with salmon flakes.

  • She also includes tofu boiled, spinach, Korean kimchi, nato.

  • She also enjoys a lettuce salad with tomatoes and chicken, but with no dressing.

  • To complete the meal, she enjoys miso soup and some beans along with rakkyo, pickled Japanese scallion.

  • Each item on Takishima's plate serves a specific purpose in keeping her healthy and energized.

  • The lean protein in her dinner provides her body with the necessary building blocks to repair and build muscle after a day of physical activity.

  • Fish is a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for heart health and reducing inflammation.

  • Chicken is high in protein and low in fat making it a great option for maintaining muscle mass while also supporting weight loss goals.

  • The rice cooked with salmon flakes adds extra protein in Omega-3 fatty acids to the meal as well as some additional flavor and texture.

  • Tofu is a great source of plant-based protein and contains all nine essential amino acids.

  • It is also high in calcium, iron and other important nutrients.

  • Boiled spinach is packed with vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin C and iron.

  • Korean kimchi is another fermented food in her meal that is rich in probiotics, which help to support good health and digestion. Spice goes very well with fish.

  • For dinner, Takeshima enjoys nato again.

  • Nato is another fermented food that is high in protein and contains a unique enzyme called nattokinase.

  • This enzyme may think the blood and help break up blood clots.

  • This might protect against heart disease and conditions caused by blood clots such as stroke, heart attack and others.

  • The lettuce tomato salad with chicken provides a fresh and crunchy addition to the meal while also supplying fiber and essential vitamins and minerals.

  • By skipping the dressing. Takeshima keeps the calorie count low and avoids adding unnecessary fat and sugar to her meal.

  • Finally, miso soup is a staple in Japanese cuisine and provides a warm and comforting addition to any meal.

  • Miso paste is made from fermented soybeans and is rich in probiotics as well as essential amino acids and minerals.

  • Overall, Takishima's dinner is a great example of a balanced and nutritious meal.

  • By including a variety of protein sources, vegetables, fermented foods and whole grains, she is able to provide her body with the fuel it needs to stay healthy and strong.

  • By following a healthy and balanced diet, she is able to maintain her energy levels and continue teaching fitness classes well into her nineties.

  • We can all learn something from her example and strive to prioritize our own health and well-being through the foods we eat.

Meet the amazing Takishima Mika, the incredible 92-year-old fitness instructor from Japan.

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