The Japan Diet (Vermillion, £6.99)

Reviewed by Dietitian, Juliette Kellow BSc RD

Looks like the hippest way to lose weight at the moment is to enjoy a feast from the East! The latest diet trend comes not from America, but from Japan – and unlike many other fad diets, this one is actually worth giving a go.

The Japan Diet by Naomi Moriyama and William Doyle (Vermilion, £6.99) explains how eating a traditional Japanese-style diet can help you lose weight and improve your overall health, particularly reducing your risk of conditions like heart disease.

According to the authors, Japanese-style eating pretty much follows the same healthy eating guidelines we have here in the UK.

The diet recommends: eating more fruit, vegetables, wholegrains and fish, especially oily fish; downsizing your portions; eating slowly and paying attention to every mouthful that you eat; cutting back on fat, saturates, trans fats, added sugars and salt; drinking fewer sugary drinks; eating regularly; becoming more active; and enjoying food.

The book looks at the main differences between typical Japanese and British diets, explains Japanese attitudes to eating and provides detailed information on why you should eat more of certain foods and less of others.

There are some great shopping tips, including a detailed analysis of ‘healthy’ ready meals from different UK supermarkets and a guide for eating out.

You’ll also find a 7-day meal plan based on ready meals and ‘grab-and-go’ items, plenty of Japanese-style recipes and information on key ingredients such as edamame, green tea, miso, noodles, sesame oil and rice vinegar.

This book is a great choice for anyone who fancies trying something a little different to help them lose weight, without resorting to an unhealthy, short-term fad.