Vol.8「⽣活の知恵」

Column|2025.11.24

Text_Yuko Hisashi


保存⾷は「⽣活の知恵」

Life Wisdom


Japan has long been a country skilled in creating preserved foods, which I view as profound “life wisdom.” We have various methods for storing seafood, vegetables like shiitake and daikon, and long-lasting pickles.

Among these, the Umeboshi (pickled plum) is the absolute champion! It’s indispensable for our health, so much so that it was cited as a medicine in Japan’s oldest medical text, Ishinpo. Samurai even relied on it during the Warring States period, not just for nutrition, but for food poisoning and wound care.

I have to admit: I personally hate sour things, and because of this, I avoided this powerful and versatile umeboshi for nearly 50 years. A few years ago, I even had a bitter experience with the “Ume-nagashi” (plum cleanse) recovery meal after fasting, and I swore I would never eat it again.

Yet, after starting to eat umeboshi again in recent months, I have seriously upgraded my health and beauty level and felt the “Umeboshi Effect” for myself! I changed my first cup of hot water (sayu) in the morning to ume-sayu (hot water mixed with umeboshi). Not only did my bowel movements improve, but general swelling all over my body disappeared. I effortlessly shed 1.5kg, and my body feels significantly lighter.

There’s an ancient saying that “The plum eliminates the three poisons” (Ume wa sandoku o tatsu). Eating plums helps us expel toxins, improve bodily function, and maintain health.

The Three Poisons (Sandoku) are:
Suidoku (impurities in our body fluids)
Shokudoku (toxins from poor diet, like overeating or irregular meals)
Ketsudoku (impurities in our blood)

This makes umeboshi the ultimate “superfood” or “cleanse food” that we modern people desperately need!

The health benefits are so vast, I regret not consuming them sooner. This confirms my belief that the traditional “life wisdom” passed down is truly the wisdom for caring for and protecting our bodies.

Umeboshi offers so much more:
・Fatigue Recovery (Citric acid breaks down fatigue-causing lactic acid).
・Stronger Bones (Citric acid increases calcium absorption).
・Digestive Aid (It boosts saliva, which breaks down starch).
・Liver Support (Picric acid aids function and helps prevent hangovers).
・Fat Burning (Vanillin stimulates fat cells; heating the umeboshi makes it even more effective).
・Immunity Boost (It raises metabolism and promotes circulation).
・Stomach Health (Ume-lignan inhibits H. pylori activity).
・Anti-Aging (Ume-lignan is an antioxidant, protecting against oxidation and potentially improving wrinkles).
Better Blood Flow (Citric acid helps dissolve blood clots).

In this day and age, where we naturally and unconsciously absorb various “toxins” from daily life, having a regular habit of detoxification and cleansing is essential. I urge you to embrace the powerful wisdom of Umeboshi as a simple method to achieve it.

久 優子|Hisashi Yuko




著書の紹介




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