After 7 years in “hell,” he returned to life!　The Power of Japanese Food” helped a psychiatrist to “get out of depression” from the bottom of the pit.

Intestinal Bacteria” Behind the Surge in Depression!

In recent years, the number of people with mental illnesses has skyrocketed. In 2011, the amount of sickness benefits paid to those who are unable to work due to illness or other reasons exceeded 600 billion yen, a 1.6-fold increase over the past five years. The mental health of modern people has become a social issue.

Dr. Kenya Miyajima, a psychiatrist and industrial physician, says that after suffering from depression for many years, he “got over it” by changing his diet.

I suffered from depression for seven years since I was a resident physician,” he says. If you want to improve depression, the dietary approach is effective.”

Depression is often thought of as a problem of the brain, but it is now known that the gut, the “second brain,” has a great deal to do with it. Research on the “brain-gut correlation,” in which the brain influences the gut and the gut influences the brain, has revealed that the function of gut bacteria also influences the brain, in other words, the way we think and our minds.

The brain is the source of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, which are the main neurotransmitters involved in emotions and moods. These major neurotransmitters are produced in the gut rather than in the brain. It is no exaggeration to say that the bacteria in the intestines are responsible for the personality of people who are prone to anxiety and depression. Deterioration of the intestinal environment also affects the brain. What is important is to regulate the intestinal environment through diet.

A psychiatrist warns!　Poisons” lurking in our daily lives

Dr. Miyajima first became aware of his mental disorder when he was working as a resident physician. He had to work on Saturdays and Sundays to organize medical records and had almost no time off. In addition to fatigue, he was also under a lot of mental pressure.

I began to feel constantly anxious about things that had not even happened, such as, “What if I misdiagnose the patient or fail to perform the procedure? ……,” and my insomnia became worse. When I saw a psychiatrist, he diagnosed me with depression, prescribed antidepressants, and placed me on a temporary leave of absence. I had hoped to become a general clinician, but I gave up and went down a different path than my fellow doctors, and I almost lost my confidence. As a physician, I felt small in my shoulders.

After that, I became a repetitive depressive, with times when I was calm and anxiety-free, and other times when my symptoms returned. I continued to work while taking mood stabilizers.

At the time, his diet consisted mainly of fatty foods such as meat. He also consumed a lot of alcohol and canned coffee.

While taking mood stabilizers to control my condition, I wanted to get out of depression somehow, so I studied psychology and other subjects, and through trial and error, I came across a diet therapy called “Natural Hygiene,” which was born in the United States, and “Western-style Koda Therapy” advocated by Dr. Mitsuo Koda. Natural Hygiene is a diet that includes fruits, vegetables, and other nutrients.

The Natural Hygiene is a vegetarian diet consisting mainly of fruits and vegetables, and is based on not taking anything that could harm the body. Western Koda Therapy emphasizes a vegetarian diet of brown rice and small meals. Dr. Miyajima practiced a modified version of these two diets that he found easy to follow.

The first thing he did was to avoid all foods that are considered “harmful” to the body, such as alcohol, coffee, white sugar, and white wheat products. I believe that tobacco, excessive protein and red meat are also poisonous to the body.

I have switched to a diet of fresh fruits and raw vegetables in the morning, and raw vegetables and brown rice for lunch and dinner. I focused on Japanese food, including miso soup, natto (fermented soybeans), tofu, vegetables, beans, and potatoes, and ate a small amount of food.

Within three weeks of starting the program, he noticed a change in his physical condition.

Within three weeks of starting the program, she noticed a change in her physical condition: “I was sleeping better, waking up less frequently, and waking up more refreshed in the morning. I used to feel anxious about everything, but my thinking and mood became more positive, and my bowel movements improved. I feel as if a weight has been lifted from my body, and I feel refreshed and can move easily every day. I have lost weight and my driver’s license photo looks like a different person.

After about a year of this diet, his mind and body stabilized to the point where he was able to stop taking his mood stabilizers.

I naturally felt that I didn’t need any more medication,” he says. I think it was because I continued to eat mainly Japanese food and my intestinal flora became good. However, you should not suddenly stop taking medication just because you have changed your diet. Withdrawal symptoms may occur, so please do not make an amateur judgment and always consult your doctor if you are taking medication.

Survey of 10,000 people reveals!　The Power of Japanese Food

According to a June ’25 survey of 12,500 working people conducted by the National Institute for Health Risk Management, people who were more likely to eat a traditional Japanese diet (Japanese food) were less likely to have symptoms of depression (*1). (*1) This proves that the Japanese diet, which includes fermented foods, soy products, and vegetables, is effective in improving depression, as Dr. Miyajima has been practicing.

The research group reported that “folic acid contained in soy products, seaweed, and vegetables synthesizes neurotransmitters related to mood stability and stress management. The group also found that omega-3 fatty acids rich in bluefish support neurotransmitter function, antioxidants in fermented foods reduce oxidative stress in the brain, and balance intestinal bacteria.

It is known that even if symptoms of depression settle down and people are able to give up medication, more than half of them will relapse if their diet, lifestyle, and way of thinking remain the same,” he said.

In order to regain a healthy mind and body without relying on medication, diet, which is the foundation of life, is the key. Japanese food can be said to be the diet that makes this possible.

There are many people who work and hide their painful feelings because they have to do their best for their families or because they cannot quit their jobs. I hope that when symptoms of depression appear, it will give you a chance to stop and rethink your life. It takes time to change the way you think and the way you live, but you can change your diet starting today.

If you continue to eat a diet that pleases your intestines, your thinking will naturally change from negative to positive. Once your thinking changes, you can gradually break free from depression. Your life where you are the main character will come back.”

If you want to have a healthy mind, start with your intestines. Japan’s world-class healthy food plays an important role in supporting the mental health of people today.

(*1) From the “Association between Japanese Dietary Patterns and Depressive Symptoms” survey conducted by the Clinical Research Center, National Institute for Health Risk Management.

https://ccs.jihs.go.jp/news/010/010/20250623_01.pdf

Kenya Miyajima is a psychiatrist and industrial physician. Graduated from the National Defense Medical College. He became a resident physician and aimed to become a general clinician, but he lost his motivation and was diagnosed with depression. He changed his diet, way of thinking, and way of life, overcame his depression, and stopped taking medication. He is the author of “Illustrated and Easy to Understand: How a Psychiatrist Cured His Own Depression” (Kawade Shobo Shinsha).

Click here to purchase a copy of Dr. Miyajima’s book, “Japanese Food to Eliminate Depression: A Psychiatrist Teaches You How to Cure Your Own Depression by Eating Japanese Food.