health

Japanese viewers go wild after TV show introduces mackerel as possible slimming product

6 Comments
By Andrew Miller

It’s not unusual for consumer products to suddenly explode in popularity after being introduced on a particular TV show, but when TV Asahi introduced mackerel as a food that can be beneficial in weight loss during its home medicine program “Takeshi no Kenko Entertainment! Minna no Kenko Igaku,” few could have expected the overwhelming outcome.

As soon as the humble fish was featured on the show, Twitter users began posting comments en masse saying that they intended to go out and buy a few cans right away, and that they feared shops might run out of stock. On the same evening the program was broadcast, the number of Twitter posts relating to the benefits of canned mackerel had risen to an astounding 1,000 posts.

The scientific explanation behind the idea that mackerel could help consumers lose weight has to do with the fish containing high levels of the digestive hormone GLP-1 and encouraging the secretion of gastric juices. However, after the scientific research was explained, it was also emphasized that its effectiveness was no more than speculation.

Perhaps what convinced so many viewers of the benefits were the results from a clinical trial involving women who ate the mackerel. Their levels of gastric juices were examined after eating the fish, which showed levels of gastric excretion four times higher than usual. After hearing this, many viewers began to treat it as a definite way to lose weight.

Whether this alone is enough to create a slim body remains unclear but for anyone interested, it can’t hurt to give it a try. On the other hand, eating too much canned mackerel could actually have the opposite effect, as each can is about 150-250 kcal. While I’m sure mackerel alone won’t guarantee weight loss, as part of a balanced diet combined with a healthy amount of exercise, it could well be the magical weight-loss food that many have been looking for.

Some of the reactions from Twitter users:

-- “It’s a strict mackerel diet for me from tomorrow.”

-- “Is it really that strange to be so serious about starting a mackerel diet?”

-- “It’s on tomorrow’s ‘to buy’ list!”

-- “Mackerel, leek and Japanese natto. What a perfect combination!”

-- “Will there still be stock left by tomorrow?”

-- “Could this be no more than a clever sale’s tactic?”

-- “They’re saying you lose weight from eating mackerel but I still haven’t seen any results!”

Source: Byokan Sunday

Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Scientists suspect eating more fish may help to curb anxiety -- Ever wondered what Japanese prison food tastes like? -- How about some fish flavored gum – to boost your intelligence?

© RocketNews24

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6 Comments
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Can only think or one word.... Gullible

2 ( +3 / -1 )

"Eat to weigh less." There's an oxymoron somewhere in the previous sentence.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

its effectiveness was no more than speculation.

then

remains unclear but for anyone interested, it can’t hurt to give it a try.

then

could actually have the opposite effect

then

it could well be the magical weight-loss food that many have been looking for.

Infotainment in need of an editor.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Saba bien.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Saba is good for you but only in small amounts. These diet fads have always been strange to me. One of my friends heard about Avacado helping you lose weight so now she eats avacado for breakfast lunch and dinner..for me I just use Tanita's cook books and I lost weight cooking low calorie foods served in smaller portions as instructed in the book and so far have done well..just learn about the food you are eating and how much to cook and how much to eat.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@plasticmonkey, you quoted out of context. The final conclusion assumes a balanced diet and healthy amount of exercise, a proven recipe for health and weight loss. In that case, the speculated hormonal effects of Saba may (note the "may") help. That's like saying "if you follow the traffic laws and fasten your seatbelt, eating mackerel may be the miracle accident-avoiding charm."

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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