Viral Cucumber Diet, Japanese Chef Successfully Lost 11 Kg Weight

JAKARTA - Japanese chef Nozaki Hiromitsu managed to lose weight by 11 kilograms in two months by applying the habit of eating cucumbers before eating and chewing each feed 20 times.

Nozaki, executive chef at the two-Michelin-starred restaurant Buntokuyama, introduced a cucumber diet method that has only two simple rules, namely eating one to two cucumbers before each meal and chewing each bite at least 20 times.

With this method, a person can still enjoy the daily meal menu as long as they choose healthy foods, and the results can be even more optimal if accompanied by exercise.

Originally from Fukushima Prefecture in northeastern Japan, which is famous as a cucumber producing area, Nozaki admitted that he had been used to eating raw cucumbers since childhood.

According to him, this habit helps control appetite and reduce the desire to snack.

The idea of making cucumbers part of a weight loss program came after a health check-up in 2011 showed that he had fatty liver and high cholesterol levels.

Since then, Nozami has started to develop his diet strategy by replacing food with cucumbers whenever he feels hungry. In fact, on some occasions he replaced breakfast and dinner menus with cucumbers.

"As a result, I managed to lose 11 kilograms of weight in two months, urinate more often, and my stomach circumference shrank," said Nozaki, quoted from the VNExpress website.

"I have maintained this weight for almost five years and have not gained any weight again," he continued.

He then poured the method into his book titled Kyuuri Taberu dake Diet (The Cucumber-Only Diet), which contains his personal experiences as well as various cucumber recipes.

For many people who are reluctant to undergo a strict diet to lose weight, the Nozaki cucumber diet method offers an easier alternative because it allows a person to continue to eat as usual while still trying to achieve their weight loss goal.

Women's soccer player Maruyama Karina revealed that she managed to lose 6.6 kilograms and reduce her waist circumference by 7.5 centimeters after undergoing the method for three weeks. Former member of the group Morning Musume, Fukuda Asuka, also tried it and reported positive results.

It is believed that cucumbers can help lose weight because they contain enzymes that play a role in increasing fat metabolism. The enzyme is sensitive to heat so that cucumbers should be consumed in a raw state.

In addition, cucumbers are rich in potassium which is diuretic so it helps regulate blood pressure, reduce fluid buildup, and relieve swelling.

With a content of about 45 calories per cucumber weighing 300 grams, cucumbers are a low-calorie food choice that is suitable for consumption raw, as a salad, as a sandwich filling, or as a side dish to replace higher calorie foods.

The fiber content in cucumbers also helps maintain the health of the digestive tract, prevents constipation, and inhibits a rapid spike in blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

In addition, cucumbers contain vitamin C and beta-carotene which are beneficial for maintaining the health of blood vessels, mucous membranes, and skin. These contents can also help prevent dry skin during a diet program.