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Big in Japan: Eating zero calorie jelly keeps Japanese women skinny
Ever wonder why it is that Japanese women are so skinny? Ever wonder how Japanese women manage to keep away the pounds even after having a child or two?
What if I told you that there was a simple and cheap remedy for dropping a few sizes while simultaneously trimming up your waistline.
What if I told you that this remedy costs less than US$10 a day, and can be started at any time no matter how overweight you happen to be.
Although the secret is slowly spreading to the Western World, for years Japanese women have been eating zero calorie jelly as a meal supplement.
Yes. You read that correctly.
Some Japanese women, on occasion, eat calorie-free meals in order to stay skinny.
Seriously. I am not making this up!
(Nor do I condone this as a healthy or safe diet!)
Now, I guess at this point in the post you are probably thinking one of the following:
a) This can't be healthy, can it?
a) Does it work?
c) What does it taste like?
d) Where can I buy some?
e) Some or all of the above.
Well, keep reading and allow me to explain the powers of zero calorie jelly!
Gallery: Japanese Food
In Tokyo, you can buy 180g gram packages of zero calorie jelly in a variety of flavors includin
g blueberry and peach for the bargain price of 240 yen or US$2.
And remarkably, you don't even have to go to a health food store to buy the product.
Instead, just simply walk out of your apartment, head into the first convenience store you see, and give into your vanity for the price of a couple of dollars.
Now, I know that it's easy to be skeptical about health and beauty products, especially since the next big thing is always being touted on late night infomercials across North America.
Also, we all know that the Japanese have incredibly healthy diets that are based on rice and fish, compared with the North America propensity for fatty foods.
And of course, I don't want to discount their genetic predisposition, especially considering that the Japanese tend to be much skinnier Western counterparts.
But, you have to admit that tricking your body into thinking it's had a meal is a gre
at way to stave off cravings and reduce your portion size.
Here's the catch.
People - think about this product for just a second!
Even if your mind and body thinks it just had a meal, it hasn't. To be blunt, eating three square meals of zero calorie jelly is the same thing as starvation or anorexia.
Let's be clear - zero calorie jelly is a great way to prevent yourself from eating a calorie-packed snack, but it's not a meal substitute. Sadly, too many young girls over here in Japan haven't gotten this message through their tiny little heads.
If you're still interested in trying the stuff, I'm fairly certain that you can find it in the States, but again, be responsible with the stuff.
With that said, please chime in if you've seen this stuff in a health food store near you, or if you've had any experience eating it.
And, in case you're wondering, it actually tastes like Jello, though I ate the stuff purely for scientific research purposes - anyone who's ever met me already knows that I'm too skinny!
For foods that actually have nutritional value, check out the gallery below:
Gallery: Japanese Food
Filed under: Food and Drink, Asia, Japan, Big in Japan
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 3)
suzy f Dec 8th 2007 2:59PM
I'm a dessert chef, and this zero cal jelly looks to me to be pretty much the same as Sugar Free Jell-O.
You can probably get the same effect (such as it is) from eating a snack-pack jell-o cup, and maybe a vitamin...
BTW: Is that "nicotine drink" really nicotine - or is it "nicotinic acid"?
Nicotinic acid is just another name for Niacin. If you take/eat natural niacn/nicotinic acid it will give you a "rush" for about 15 mins. Your face turns red and you feel kinda hot.
Most folks would rather not have their face turn red from taking vitamins, so instead most multi-vitamins use "niacinamide" - the synthetic version - which doesn't have that effect.
marlena Dec 8th 2007 1:27PM
The zero calorie jello is something I use as a filler when I want something sweet, but I lost my weight the healthy way. I dont want to get too skinny, just want to be healthy and active. I eat healthy, exercise , take my vitamins and supplements from zylenebody. I lost over 40 pounds and feel better than I have in years. http://www.zylenebody.com. the site was recomended to my by my physician to help me get on a healthy plan and get the supplements I was lacking. Zylene is the best weight loss product I have ever used ( my doctor is also taking it and lost weight too!)
Nancy Dec 8th 2007 1:49PM
Guys,, no one has brought up what the jelly is. I think its Kudzu,,, or in english,, glucomannan,,, like in Trim Spa. It is a tasteless,, calorie free fiber that basically congeals into a jello like substance,,, that is more rubbery than anything else. You can order it online but its more of a supplement than anything else. I use it to make my own flavored jellos. The pro side of it,, it is very filling, has some soluble fiber in it,, so whats wrong with that other than taste and texture? Its also found in Japanese products,, mainly Shirataki noodles,,, which arent really noodles. The are a good substitute,,,if your diabetic like me and want to "relive" the motions of having noodles, sigh.
Again do a search for glucomannan,, kudzu,, devils claw I believe,,,, and there was something being listed as a Yam too. Again these items are no substitute for a real diet,, but are tools to help supplement.
nabila Dec 8th 2007 1:47PM
Americans are fat because everything they eat is fried or drink lot of drinks. For example 75% of American families eat out in fast food restaurants. One the other hand Japanese women eat healthy and exercise a lot. Americans are the laziest people on earth they will rather have lipo suction done than exercising 30 minutes everyday. The main difference between American women and Japanese women are American women are lazy and eat lot of fatty foods.
Leslie Dec 8th 2007 2:07PM
Here's another News Flash: Starving yourself will actually make you fatter over time. You may not see it, but your body under stress will hold visceral fat, which is the most dangerous type, and rob from your muscle tone and even your bone density to compensate. This is how skinny people can be 39% body fat.
Nutrisystem is OK short term, but robs you of calories. How can 1200 calories be OK for both men and women of any size?? Yeah, sure...
A Dec 8th 2007 2:25PM
Eating calorie free jello too much seems unhealthy to me. If it's sugar free, what about all that cancer causing sugar substitute (unless you go for the ones with Splenda). If you can't get this special vitamin fortfied japanese diet jello around you, then taking vitamins with jello doesn't seem like a good idea either. I wouldn't be surprised if people started losing their hair or something if they did this too long.
If you really want to diet like a maniac, just eat fortified bread (i prefer wheat free, like corn made). It has vitamins and fiber and probably won't spike your insulin levels. And it has enough fiber for you to fill you up enough to safely take your vitamins to digest with. Also, eat your salads with plenty of spinach & tomatoes and do alot of easy hiking/ walking. This is also good for vegans.
Just eating jello is probably not so good for your digestive system either. Your eyesight & skin may become poor too, from not enough nutrients. You'll probably lose muscle tone and become flabbier too.
Hear This! Dec 10th 2007 11:32PM
Gelatin (US spelling) or gelatine (British spelling) (used to make Jell-o and other desserts) is made from the boiled bones, skins and tendons of animals.
That's disgusting, just though you might want to know..
Bonnie Dec 8th 2007 5:25PM
>>
AMEN SARA!!! I have been eating the sugar free Hunts at a buck a four pack for a long time. No refrigeration either. Their SF caramel and the SF chocolate pudding is awesome too!!!!!!! People miss it on the store shelves (usually in the cooking section). The greatest thing about it is that none of it requires refrigeration so I can stash it anywhere!
Bonnie Dec 8th 2007 5:15PM
that "cancer" crap about aspartame was started to help the splenda company. Didn't you hear about the lawsuit they just had to pay out many mega bucks to? It's because of the lies about it being natural. What they end up with as a product is no more natural than saccharin.
SAURER Dec 9th 2007 8:53AM
WOW
averagej0eeee Dec 9th 2007 12:28PM
If any of you know how to comprehend the article...it's not a JELLY DIET. What the article states, is that they supplement 1 meal by eating this instead. Simply put...if I ate 3 cheeseburger meals a day for a total of 3000 calories ( i'm exaggerating ) and cut that to 2 burgers and 1 jelly packet, i'm cutting out 1000 calories per day. This is common sense. You don't have to go to the jelly packet extreme. Substitute a meal with a piece of fruit and you're golden.
Dee Dec 9th 2007 6:09PM
I have to agree that it sounds like our version of Jell-O. I've always assumed that Jell-O was actually a healthy food because it is made of animal cartilage making it good for your joints. I'm in NO way implying supplementing numerous or even a whole meal for Jell-O but it makes a great snack especially if you add chopped Apples or Bananas to it.
Julie Dec 9th 2007 6:02PM
If used properly it could be a tremendous help for those of us who never quite feel full. I would not replace all my meals with this but used as a snack or one meal replacement couldn't hurt or better yet have it right before a meal and maybe it will help to eat less.
http://www.noshtalgia.blogspot.com/
nicole reiser Dec 10th 2007 12:25PM
Where would i buy this? i live in south florida? i am very interested in buying it but do they sell it down here?? please get back to me A.s.A.P
Chris Dec 24th 2007 6:37PM
I would love to know where to purchase this gel. I live in NYC and there are several Japanese supermarkets in the area. No one seemed to know what I was asking for. Any help would be appreciated. The holidays are coming and I could use some zero cal assistance. Thanks.
Chris Dec 31st 2007 10:48PM
I would love to know where to purchase this gel. I live in NYC and there are several Japanese supermarkets in the area. No one seemed to know what I was asking for. Any help would be appreciated. The holidays are coming and I could use some zero cal assistance. Thanks.
mameko Jan 22nd 2008 10:33AM
Given the spate of false food labelling here I am skeptical about this stuff. How can it have zero calories AND (according to the label) 9.4 grams of carbohydrates? I thought carbohydrates were a source of energy...
(Yes, I have too much time on my hands!)