64 y/o Japanese actress battles chronic illness, changes constitution with 'Four Evils Elimination Diet'

Can chronic illnesses be improved by dietary changes? A Japanese actress in her 60s suffered for years from chronic illnesses, collapsing and being hospitalized whenever she overworked. Recently, she tried a "Four Evils Elimination Diet" to change her constitution, and her health has improved. But does eliminating dairy, sweets, wheat, and vegetable oils really help reverse disease?

64-year-old Japanese actress Matsuda Miyuki has an impressive career. Her late husband was superstar Matsuda Yusaku, her sons are famous actors Matsuda Ryuhei and Matsuda Shota, and her older sister is actress Kumagai Naomi. Despite being from a renowned acting family, she has suffered from chronic illnesses in recent years, even being taken to the hospital by ambulance. Matsuda Miyuki recently shared on her Instagram: "In recent years, whenever I overwork, I get sick. This summer, I even called an ambulance. My mother also passed away at 57, so I feel very anxious too."

Following her sister's advice, Matsuda began practicing the "Four Evils Elimination Diet"developed by Dr. Yoshino Toshiaki, which involves completely eliminating sugar, wheat, vegetable oils, and dairy products. She was pleasantly surprised: "After following it for one month, I lost weight, and my body is gradually improving! Many minor discomforts have gotten better. Although I'm still in a transition period, my body sometimes feels unsteady." 

She is determined to continue for a year, adding: "When I'm hungry, if I just grab something convenient to fill my stomach, my body keeps getting eroded."

What is the 'Four Evils Elimination Diet'? Doctor Reports Improved Vision After Eliminating Them

Regarding this diet, Yoshino shared that during dental bone regeneration surgeries, he noticed most patients with diabetes or dyslipidemia had poorer healing, some even untreatable.

He asked patients to first eliminate the "Four Evils"—wheat, vegetable oils, dairy, and sweets. Not only did treatment outcomes improve, but some patients also saw simultaneous improvements in conditions like eczema, headaches, and menstrual pain. Yoshino believes these "evils" are linked to the surge in modern diseases: autoimmune diseases have increased 70-fold since the 1970s, breast cancer patients are 5 times more than 40 years ago, and diabetes patients are 50 times more than in the 1960s. This rapid increase is closely related to dietary Westernization.

Key Principles of the 'Four Evils Elimination Diet':

Yoshino emphasizes that the key is "complete elimination," not just reduction. He personally experienced miraculous improvement in his nearsightedness and presbyopia, no longer needing glasses. His dietary advice:

• Staples: Eliminate gluten (bread, pasta), udon. Switch to white rice, brown rice, or mixed grains.
• Ingredients: Choose minimally processed, fresh foods. Main ingredients: beef, pork, chicken, blue-backed fish, vegetables, seaweed. Cook using Japanese methods.
• Cooking: Eliminate vegetable oils. No need for oil; avoid stir-frying/deep-frying. Opt for stewing, roasting, steaming, blanching.
• Seasonings/Sweets: Use "natural sun-dried salt" instead of refined salt. Use naturally fermented seasonings like salt koji, soy sauce koji for flavor.
• Sweets: Avoid fruits, sweet potatoes, corn due to high sugar content.

Yoshino uses a cup as a metaphor for the body's health. Even if currently healthy, long-term intake of unsuitable foods will eventually "overflow" the cup, leading to illness. He suggests reviewing one's diet while still healthy to prevent disease.

How the 'Four Evils' Affect the Body

1. Wheat (Gluten):
   • May trigger autoimmune reactions attacking normal cells.
   • Can cause respiratory issues, gastrointestinal discomfort, chronic headaches, depression, irritability.
   • Causes rapid blood sugar spikes, damaging blood vessels and promoting fat accumulation.
2. Vegetable Oils (e.g., olive oil, flaxseed oil):
   • Oxidize when heated, producing harmful "aldehydes" that easily adhere to blood vessel walls, causing inflammation and atherosclerosis.
   • Damage the nervous system; may be linked to childhood epilepsy and ADHD.
   • High intake in adults may increase Parkinson's disease risk.
3. Dairy Products (e.g., milk, cheese):
   • Many Asians lack lactase enzyme, easily leading to bloating and diarrhea.
   • Casein in dairy may trigger chronic inflammation and allergies.
   • High saturated fat may increase "bad" cholesterol and cardiovascular risk.
   • Alternatives: soy milk, almond milk, oat milk.
4. Sweets (containing refined sugar & artificial sweeteners):
   • Stimulate the brain's reward system,容易成癮. The brain over-secretes dopamine, impairing judgment.
   • Asians generally secrete less insulin, making blood sugar spikes easier. Artificial sweeteners may also cause "insulin resistance."
   • Exacerbate various inflammations: skin issues, lower back pain, frozen shoulder, rheumatism, etc.