「酒は百薬の長」という言葉があります。これは、「適量の酒はどんな良薬よりも効果がある」いう意味です。日本酒には、私たちの身体に必要なアミノ酸をはじめたくさんの栄養素が含まれています。また、体の血行を促進したりお肌も綺麗になるなど、嬉しい効果がたくさんございます。今回は、そんな日本酒がもつ健康・美容への効果をまとめました。

日本酒には人間の体の形成に必要なアミノ酸、ビタミン、有機酸、ミネラルなどの栄養素が含まれています。特にアミノ酸に関しては、数多くあるアルコール飲料の中で日本酒が最もアミノ酸の含有量が多いアルコール飲料だとされています。日本酒に含まれる栄養素がもたらす効果は大きく4つございます。一つ目は「食欲増進」、二つ目は「リフレッシュ効果」、三つ目は「血行促進アンチエイジング効果」、そして四つ目が「美白効果」になります。

1.  食欲増進

日本酒の中に含まれるアミノ酸の中には、トリプトファンというアミノ酸が含まれています。このトリプトファンは、体内では充分に合成できないアミノ酸である「必須アミノ酸」です。このトリプトファンは、ビタミンB群の体内での機能を助けて、成長ホルモンの分泌を促進してくれます。また、食欲増進効果や疲労回復効果も期待できるアミノ酸として有名です。ただし日本酒を飲み過ぎてしまうと、糖尿病や肥満の原因ともなり得るので、一度に飲む量には気をつけましょう。

2.  リフレッシュ効果

「トリプトファン」には食欲増進の効果があるとご紹介させて頂きましたが、日本酒に含まれるトリプトファンに期待できる効果は、食欲増進や疲労回復だけではありません。トリプトファンは、精神の安定に深く関わる物質である「セロトニン」の原料ともなっている重要なアミノ酸なのです。日本酒だけでなく、アルコール飲料全般に、セロトニンの分泌を促進させる効果があります。セロトニンはストレスを抑え、気分をリフレッシュしてくれます。また、不安や恐怖といったマイナスの感情を抑制してくれたり、苛立ちの鎮静化にも役立っている物質です。日本酒には他のアルコール飲料よりもトリプトファンが多く含まれているため、リフレッシュ効果が高く、「気分転換したい」「前向きな気持ちになりたい」といったシーンにぴったりの飲み物です。

3. 血流促進によるアンチエイジング効果

日本酒に含まれるアミノ酸の中でも、アミノ酸が2つ以上結合してできる「ペプチド」は、さまざまな健康をサポートしてくれる成分です。代表的なペプチドの効果は血圧を下げる効果です。近年では、日本においても食文化の変化により、高血圧や糖尿病などという生活習慣病を引き起こしてしまうリスクが高まっています。そんな現代病に対し、大きな働きがけを期待できるのがペプチドです。具体的には、血管を詰まりにくくし、血流を促進する効果が期待できます。そのため、血流が原因となって発生する冷え症や肩こりの解消にも役立ちます。血流が正常であれば、さまざまな健康面での効果が期待できますが、中でも注目されているのが「アンチエイジング効果」です。

白髪化、シミ、代謝の低下などは、血流が滞ってしまうことが原因で引き起こされ、「老化」を促進します。このため、日本酒に含まれるペプチドを一定量摂取することによって、若々しい肉体と精神を保つことに役立ちます。

美容の面のみならず、ペプチドには記憶力改善にも役立つ効果が期待されています。脳機能の面でもアンチエイジング効果が期待できるのです。

4.  美白効果

最後に肌の美白効果です。日本酒は醸造過程で麹が使用されています。そして、結果として完成した日本酒には「コウジ酸」が含まれています。コウジ酸はシミやそばかすの根源となっているメラノサイトを攻撃し、メラニン産生をブロックしてくれる効果があります。

日本酒には、必須アミノ酸が全て含まれており、健康はもちろん美容効果も期待できる素晴らしい飲み物です。日本酒を飲んでしばらくすると、体がポカポカしてきたという経験はございませんか？これはアデノシンという成分が血管を拡張し血流を促進してくれるため、体が温かくなるのです。このため、日本酒は血流が悪くなることにより引き起こされる冷え症や、肩こりの解消にも役立ちます。

日本酒にはさまざまな嬉しい効果がありますが、飲みすぎてしまうのには注意が必要です。日本酒は平均してアルコール度数が15度～17度あり、決して弱いアルコールではないので二日酔いや酩酊状態を引き起こすことも十分に考えられます。日本酒の健康効果を引き出す最適な飲み方は、「1日1合程度」です。

おいしい日本酒をゆっくりと味わいながら、日本酒が持つ様々な効果を実感してみてください。

【英訳】Unit 13. Sake’s Good Effects on Health and Beauty

In recent years, research on alcoholic beverages have confirmed that proper intake of sake is actually good for your health and beauty.Sake contains nutrients such as amino acids, vitamins, organic acids and minerals that are essential for human body. It is reported that sake contains the most amino acids among alcoholic beverages. There are three major effects of nutrients in sake.  “Appetite boosting”,“Refreshing”, “Anti-Aging” and “Skin enhancing”.

1. Appetite Boosting  

One of the amino acids contained in sake is called tryptophan.This tryptophan is an “essential amino acid”,  that is not produced in the body, and can only be consumed. This amino acid helps promote the function of vitamin B in the body and the secretion of growth hormones. It is also known as an amino acid that can be expected to promote appetite and recover from fatigue. However, if you drink sake too much, iit will cause diabeties and obesity.

2.  Refreshing

Tryptophan, is not just about improving appetite and recovering from fatigue.

 It is also an important amino acid that is a raw material for serotonin.  In addition to sake, alcoholic beverages basically helps promote serotonin secretion. Serotonin can reduce stress and refresh your mood.  It is also a substance that suppresses emotions such as anxiety and fear, and also helps you remain calm and relaxed.

It is because sake contains more tryptophan than other alcoholic beverages, it has a high refreshing effect and can be used useful in situations when you want to change your mood or feelings.

3. Anti-Aging

Among the amino acids contained in sake, “peptides” support various health conditions. A typical peptide has the effect of bringing down  blood pressure. In recent years,the risk of  lifestyle-related health issues such as high blood pressure and diabetes is increasing. P

eptides can be expected to work greatly against such modern health issues.  Specifically, preventing blood clogs and promoting blood flow. Therefore, it helps to stay warm and reduce shoulder stiffness caused by blood clogs.  

Various effects can be expected if the blood flow is normal, but the anti-aging effect is attracting attention. “Aging” is accelerated by blood flow stagnation, such as graying hair, spots, wrinkles and decreased metabolism. For this reason, taking a certain amount of peptide contained in sake, helps to maintain a youthful body and spirit.

Peptides are expected to help improve memory as well as beauty.  This means that anti-aging effects can also be expected in terms of brain function.It can be hard to believe that drinking alcohol can also help you improve your memory.

Since, Japanese sake contains a lot of peptides, various studies have confirmed that peptides help in the prevention of short-term memory impairment.

4. Skin Enhancing

Next is the skin enhancing effect.  Many of you may know that koji is used in the process of making sake and leaves “Koji acid” behind. Koji acid attacks melanocytes, which are the source of stains and freckles, and has the effect of blocking melanin production.

Sake contains all of the essential amino acids, so you can expect good effects not only for your health but also for beauty. As you might have experienced after drinking Japanese sake, there is something that makes the body warm, and this is because the component called adenosine dilates blood vessels and promotes blood flow, so the body becomes warm.

However,  be careful not to drink too much because of its great effects.  The sake that contains the most amino acids is called Junmai Ginjo, but it usually contents  high alcohol around 15-17%. 

 It would be counterproductive to continue drinking this way.  The best way to enjoy the health benefits of sake is having about 180 ml per a day.

今回のレッスンでの一番の気づきは、「日本酒を手に取りたくなるようなPR方法を考える」ことです。

今回のレッスンでは、日本酒がもつ嬉しい健康・美容効果について説明する練習をさせて頂きました。

In recent years, research on alcoholic beverages have confirmed that proper intake of sake is actually good for your health and beauty.Sake contains nutrients such as amino acids, vitamins, organic acids and minerals that are essential for human body. It is reported that sake contains the most amino acids among alcoholic beverages. There are three major effects of nutrients in sake.  “Appetite boosting”,“Refreshing”, “Anti-Aging” and “Skin enhancing”.

1. Appetite Boosting  

One of the amino acids contained in sake is called tryptophan.This tryptophan is an “essential amino acid”,  that is not produced in the body, and can only be consumed. This amino acid helps promote the function of vitamin B in the body and the secretion of growth hormones. It is also known as an amino acid that can be expected to promote appetite and recover from fatigue. However, if you drink sake too much, iit will cause diabeties and obesity.

2.  Refreshing

Tryptophan, is not just about improving appetite and recovering from fatigue.

 It is also an important amino acid that is a raw material for serotonin.  In addition to sake, alcoholic beverages basically helps promote serotonin secretion. Serotonin can reduce stress and refresh your mood.  It is also a substance that suppresses emotions such as anxiety and fear, and also helps you remain calm and relaxed.

It is because sake contains more tryptophan than other alcoholic beverages, it has a high refreshing effect and can be used useful in situations when you want to change your mood or feelings.

3. Anti-Aging

Among the amino acids contained in sake, “peptides” support various health conditions. A typical peptide has the effect of bringing down  blood pressure. In recent years,the risk of  lifestyle-related health issues such as high blood pressure and diabetes is increasing. P

eptides can be expected to work greatly against such modern health issues.  Specifically, preventing blood clogs and promoting blood flow. Therefore, it helps to stay warm and reduce shoulder stiffness caused by blood clogs.  

Various effects can be expected if the blood flow is normal, but the anti-aging effect is attracting attention. “Aging” is accelerated by blood flow stagnation, such as graying hair, spots, wrinkles and decreased metabolism. For this reason, taking a certain amount of peptide contained in sake, helps to maintain a youthful body and spirit.

Peptides are expected to help improve memory as well as beauty.  This means that anti-aging effects can also be expected in terms of brain function.It can be hard to believe that drinking alcohol can also help you improve your memory.

Since, Japanese sake contains a lot of peptides, various studies have confirmed that peptides help in the prevention of short-term memory impairment.

4. Skin Enhancing

Next is the skin enhancing effect.  Many of you may know that koji is used in the process of making sake and leaves “Koji acid” behind. Koji acid attacks melanocytes, which are the source of stains and freckles, and has the effect of blocking melanin production.

Sake contains all of the essential amino acids, so you can expect good effects not only for your health but also for beauty. As you might have experienced after drinking Japanese sake, there is something that makes the body warm, and this is because the component called adenosine dilates blood vessels and promotes blood flow, so the body becomes warm.

However,  be careful not to drink too much because of its great effects.  The sake that contains the most amino acids is called Junmai Ginjo, but it usually contents  high alcohol around 15-17%. 

 It would be counterproductive to continue drinking this way.  The best way to enjoy the health benefits of sake is having about 180 ml per a day.