今⽇もウェルビーイング   Vol.4

Column|2025.7.24

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Text_Yuko Hisashi


「薬食同源」

“Food and medicine share the same origin”

The principle of “yaku-shoku dōgen” holds that food and medicine share the same root, reminding us that what we eat can heal, and poor diet can harm. Healthy eating protects us from all kinds of ills, and a life of good health begins with what we consume every day. In a world flooded with advice on health, beauty, and diet, it’s easy to feel lost. So, following yoff vol.16’s theme of “food,” I’d like to share a column on something I mindfully include in my own diet: okayu, Japanese rice porridge.

風邪の時だけじゃない!お粥を取り入れる

Okayu: Not Just for Colds

Do you remember being a child and your mother making okayu when you had a cold? In Japan, okayu is the go-to comfort food when you’re feeling under the weather. It’s typically mild, gentle on the stomach, and warming for the body. I love the familiar Japanese version, but the one I eat regularly is actually Korean-style juk. While researching my book Korean-Style Beauty Slimming, I first encountered this nourishing porridge during fieldwork in Korea. In Korea, juk is part of everyday life, even served at specialty shops. Unlike the simple Japanese version, it’s full of flavor and comes in endless varieties. Think abalone porridge, shrimp, red bean, sweet potato, pumpkin—juk is hearty and brimming with seasonal ingredients. It’s nutrient-rich, low in calories—the perfect food for both health and beauty! It’s easy to digest and gentle on the stomach, while still offering full nourishment. Its high water content also helps flush toxins from the intestines. In essence, it gives your gut a gentle cleanse. Japanese okayu fills you up quickly but digests fast, leaving you hungry again. Korean juk, on the other hand, keeps you satisfied longer. The secret lies in how it’s made. Unlike the Japanese method, Korean juk begins by stir-frying raw rice in sesame oil until it turns sticky, then simmering it in 5 to 6 parts water (up to 8). This adds depth of flavor and promotes longer-lasting fullness. Sesame oil also boosts circulation, helps combat cold sensitivity, supports skin health, and offers anti-aging benefits. While fasting is a valid way to reset your body, why not incorporate okayu into your daily life—for both wellness and beauty? Seasonal ingredients are ideal, but even leftovers from the fridge can make a soothing, body-friendly porridge. As the weather heats up and cold foods tempt us, our digestion can suffer. That’s why it’s the perfect time to warm the body and support immunity—starting with food that’s gentle and energizing from within.

久 優子|Hisashi Yuko