Have you been feeling more tired than usual lately?
Fatigue is a common issue that affects many people, often for reason they can’t quite pinpoint. There are numerous potential causes for feeling worn out, such as stress, lack of sleep, poor diet or even change in weather. When you body is exhausted, it can be challenging to find the energy to get through the day.
Fatigue isn’t just about feeling sleepy; it can also include a lack of motivation, reduced concentration and a general sense of weakness. It’s a stat that can impact your daily life, making even simple tasks seem like a mountain to climb.
In Japan, one of the go-to-foods for combating fatigue is “Umeboshi”, which are Japanese salted plums that are often enjoyed with rice. Umeboshi is one of the ancient Japanese medicinal foods with so many healthy benefits. But one of its main benefits is that it fights fatigue!
Battling Fatigue Why not Try Umeboshi?
How can Umeboshi help fight fatigue?
How can umeboshi help combat fatigue? Umeboshi is rich in citric acid, a vital component for energy production in our bodies. Without enough citric acid, our bodies struggle to convert sugars into energy, leading to fatigue. Additionally, citric acid can also help in breaking down lactic acid, a waste product that also contributes to fatigue, and can even prevent production for it.
Citric acid is essential for our bodies, particularly because of its role in the citric acid cycle, an energy-releasing process. This process enables our bodies to run the cycle efficiently and generate energy more quickly.
Umeboshi: Natural Energy Boost
Power of umeboshi
Not just a fatigue fighter, there are more amazing health benefits!
- Powerful alkaliser: Umeboshi is often referred to as the ” King of alkaline foods”. Despite the sour taste, umeboshi has a strong alkalising effect on the blood
- Muscle pain remover: Lactic acid is the central cause of muscle fatigue and soreness. Umeboshi’s ability to break down this acid is important to relieving muscle pain
- Detoxifier: Umeboshi also contains picric acid, which improves and stimulates the liver functions to help clean out toxins from your body. This alongside its powerful alkalising properties help to detox the body
- Hangover prevention and cure: Umeboshi has been used in Japanese culture for many years to help cure and prevent a hangover due to its detoxing ability and cleansing of the liver
- Natural flu medicine: Umeboshi has incredible anti-bacterial properties and strengthens the body’s ability to fight bad bacteria that leads to viruses or infections. If you are feeling sick in Japan, rice porridge with umeboshi is a common food you eat
Umeboshi: “King of Alkaline Food”
Ume su (Plum Vinegar)
Ume su is also excellent for combating fatigue, just like umeboshi it has the same nutrients! This unique by-product of umeboshi production isn’t technically a vinegar because it isn’t brewed.
In Japanese, “su” means “vinegar,” but Umesu is actually the juice that is released when plums (ume) are salted and pickled in a container. This tangy liquid is rich in nutrients from the ume fruit, such as citric acid—which enhances stamina and reduces fatigue—and polyphenols, which provide antioxidant benefits to support overall vitality. Ume su is often enjoyed as a condiment for dressings, marinades, or seasoning sushi rice.
Ume su: A tangy, energising essence that adds a refreshing flavour to your dishes
Are you ready to enjoy Ume su and Umeboshi now? I hope so! Be cautious, as many umeboshi sold in Asian supermarkets contain MSG and sugar. For the best quality, look for umeboshi made with only sea salt, ume, and shiso at health food stores. Or for a delightful and refreshing twist, try Umeshu that is just as good to combat fatigue! You can find more details and recipes in my Japanese superfoods cookbook as well!
DO YOU NEED HEALTHY VEGAN COOKING INSPIRATIONS?
Do you know I run a cooking school in Sydney?
Please come and join my healthy Japanese superfoods cooking class in Sydney. We offer vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free cooking classes that are filled with tasty and easy recipes. You will learn not only cooking skills and tips but also how to use Japanese ancient wisdom on a daily basis for your health, energy, and beauty! Don’t be afraid to make it a group event, corporate team building cooking classes, hens party cooking classes and other group classes are available, the more the merrier! Join my cooking class from HERE or leave me an inquiry HERE.
You don’t live in Sydney?
Don’t worry, there are two ways to learn Japanese cooking with me.
NEW Japanese online cooking classes coming soon! More information to come, subscribe HERE so you don’t miss out!
Plant Based Cookbooks
If you want to cook more easy and tasty Japanese vegan meals using Japanese superfoods – real key for Japanese health, please grab my vegan cookbook “Japanese Superfoods” or “Top 3 Japanese Superfoods for Natural Weightloss” or even better, you can have “Japanese Superfoods combo deal” to master Japanese Superfoods.
