At 50, model and TV personality Yano Shiho continues to maintain a tall, slender frame of 173 cm and a weight in the low 50-kilogram range. She recently revealed her go-to morning routine for staying light and energized on her YouTube channel.
During a visit to the home of a close friend in Japan whom she warmly refers to as her "Tokyo mom," Yano prepared her signature "KCA juice"—a blend of kale, celery, and apple. The low-calorie beverage is designed to manage weight while causing only a gradual rise in blood sugar.
"If you drink it every day, your body feels light, and your overall condition is great," Yano said, noting that the drink helps prevent constipation and keeps her from feeling run down. She added that she frequently drinks it while traveling to maintain her energy.
In South Korea, Yano is widely recognized as the wife of mixed martial artist Choo Sung-hoon, but in Japan, she built a long-standing career as a top model. For Yano, the key to maintaining this daily routine is convenience. Gifting her friend a whole-food juicer, she emphasized, "You can put whole fruits and vegetables in, and it's dishwasher-safe, making it super convenient for busy mornings."
To understand the health benefits and potential drawbacks of KCA juice, we spoke with Kim Ji-ho, a doctor of Korean medicine and policy director at the Society for Clinical Integrative Oncology Medicine.
Q. Social media posts often claim that juicing turns produce into "sugar water without fiber." What actually happens to the body when you consume extracted vegetable and fruit juice regularly?
Dr. Kim Ji-ho: Calling extracted juice "sugar water" is an oversimplification. While juicing does reduce insoluble dietary fiber, soluble fiber remains, alongside essential vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds like polyphenols and carotenoids.
The greatest advantage is that it allows you to consume a volume and variety of produce that would be difficult to eat whole in a single day. Raw vegetables and fruits also contain plant-derived microorganisms that support the human gut microbiome, positively influencing metabolism.
That said, if the fruit ratio is too high, sugar intake increases. Vegetables should be the star, and fruit should play a supporting role. Juice should not replace whole vegetables entirely, but rather serve as a practical way to increase your daily plant intake.
Q. What makes KCA juice specifically beneficial, and is drinking it on an empty stomach in the morning optimal?
Dr. Kim: KCA juice is a well-balanced combination. Kale is rich in carotenoids and polyphenols, while celery provides diverse bioactive plant compounds. The apple simply rounds out the flavor, making it easier to drink consistently.
Morning is ideal because breakfast is the one meal you can proactively control. Lunch and dinner are frequently dictated by work, social engagements, or family plans. The world may decide your lunch and dinner, but breakfast is the one meal you decide for yourself.
Q. What key advice would you offer readers regarding breakfast and overall wellness?
Dr. Kim: I keep my own breakfast simple—juicing a few whole vegetables and fruits, mixing in a little yogurt, and starting the day light. A consistent habit matters far more than any single "superfood."
Rather than viewing food strictly through macronutrients like carbs, proteins, and fats, remember that eating plants nourishes your gut's microbial ecosystem. From the moment you wake up, don't just feed your own cells—feed the beneficial microbes inside your body. Breakfast isn't just a time to fill your stomach; it's when you set the trajectory for your health for the rest of the day.
