Exploring the science behind living a longer, healthier and happier life.
Okinawan Longevity
Japanese people have what is probably the world's longest natural life span. On average, someone born and raised in Japan will live to 82. This compares to the US average longevity of 77. The people in Japan with the greatest probability for long and healthy lives live in Okinawa.
According to the Ministry of Health, Okinawan rates of coronary heart disease, cancer and stroke are the lowest in the world. Okinawans live into their 90's and 100's. This is attributed to a diet which includes fresh fish, fresh vegetables, seaweed, tofu, green tea and plenty of exercise.
They walk and do their errands on foot. They raise their own vegetables and work in their gardens.
The mainstay of Okinawa's world-beating longevity is clearly a lifetime of healthy habits
Japanese people have what is probably the world's longest natural life span. On average, someone born and raised in Japan will live to 82. This compares to the US average longevity of 77. The people in Japan with the greatest probability for long and healthy lives live in Okinawa.
According to the Ministry of Health, Okinawan rates of coronary heart disease, cancer and stroke are the lowest in the world. Okinawans live into their 90's and 100's. This is attributed to a diet which includes fresh fish, fresh vegetables, seaweed, tofu, green tea and plenty of exercise.
They walk and do their errands on foot. They raise their own vegetables and work in their gardens.
The mainstay of Okinawa's world-beating longevity is clearly a lifetime of healthy habits
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There exists a place on our planet where 100-year-olds live in their own homes and tend their own gardens. It's a place where breast cancer is so rare that screening mammography is not needed and where the three leading killers in our culture - heart disease, stroke and cancer - occur with the lowest frequency in the world. Where people maintain a healthy weight - without dieting - throughout life.
Okinawa - The Longevity Island
Known as the Longevity Island, Okinawa is home to the world's highest known concentration of centenarians. Data reveals that Okinawans not only enjoy one of the world's longest life expectancies, but a remarkable ability to age successfully and significantly disease free.
The evidence is dramatic. The Okinawan Centenarian Study reported that compared to North Americans, Okinawans suffer 80 percent fewer incidences of breast and prostate cancers, and less than half the ovarian and colon cancers. In addition to extremely low rates of hormone-dependent cancers, Okinawans also have significantly lower rates of diabetes and heart disease.
The evidence is dramatic. The Okinawan Centenarian Study reported that compared to North Americans, Okinawans suffer 80 percent fewer incidences of breast and prostate cancers, and less than half the ovarian and colon cancers. In addition to extremely low rates of hormone-dependent cancers, Okinawans also have significantly lower rates of diabetes and heart disease.
Important!
Japan has longest living population in world with 40,000 people over 100 years of age.
Okinawa's Living Relics - Japan
September 2004 People live longer in Okinawa than anywhere else in the world. Produced by ABC Australia Distributed by Journeyman Pictures
There are 4 times as many people over 100 in Okinawa than anywhere on the planet!
There are 4 times as many people over 100 in Okinawa than anywhere on the planet!
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Important!
Okinawa Centenarian Study
The evidence presented in the Okinawa Centenarian Study reveals that what you eat -- and how you live and think -- has a huge impact on your health, your weight, your energy, your stress level and your life expectancy.
Click The Link To Read About The Okinawa Centenarian Study
- The Okinawa Centenarian Study : Evidence based gerontology
- Okinawa Centenarian Study findings: world's longest life expectancy,health,successful aging due to lifestyle
Temple Roof
By libraryman
The Okinawan Diet
The traditional Japanese diet of fish and vegetables with not too much saturated fat from meat, is replicated in Okinawa - but with some special Okinawan features.
Okinawan and mainland cooking differ because of the climate. The warm and sunny weather in semi-tropical Okinawa allows fresh vegetables all year round. This makes it unnecessary to preserve vegetables by pickling in salt, which reduces the Okinawans' sodium intake.
Okinawan and mainland cooking differ because of the climate. The warm and sunny weather in semi-tropical Okinawa allows fresh vegetables all year round. This makes it unnecessary to preserve vegetables by pickling in salt, which reduces the Okinawans' sodium intake.
- The Okinawa Diet Newsletter
- Diet and health news from the official Okinawa Diet website: diet, fitness, nutrition, health news headlines and updates
- Article - How To Eat Like An Okinawan
- How to Eat Like an Okinawan. Older Okinawans have the greatest longevity of any people on the planet, due in large part to their notoriously healthy diet. In fact, there are more centenarians in this group of Japanese islands tha...
Add The Okinawan Diet to Your Library
Fish Market on Okinawa
by libraryman
Think of Food as Medicine
From Okinawa Tea Company
In addition to diet, Okinawan's attitude about food plays a vital role in their longevity. Okinawans refer to their food as "kusuimun" or "nuchigusui", which means "medicine" or "medicine for life". Food that doesn't contain healthful qualities is deemed worthless.
When older Okinawans reconnect with their children and grandchildren after a time apart, their greeting is likely to be, "Are you eating good food?" To Okinawans, eating good food means eating a daily diet that will help prevent illness and disease. When the elders say "food", they are not referring to gourmet dishes or popular delicacies, but instead they mean food that is healthy for the body with curative powers.
When older Okinawans reconnect with their children and grandchildren after a time apart, their greeting is likely to be, "Are you eating good food?" To Okinawans, eating good food means eating a daily diet that will help prevent illness and disease. When the elders say "food", they are not referring to gourmet dishes or popular delicacies, but instead they mean food that is healthy for the body with curative powers.
Make Exercise a Daily Ritual
From Okinawa Tea Company
For Okinawans, exercise is a way of life and elders are surprisingly fit. Martial arts, lots of walking and gardening, tai chi, and traditional dance, which many Okinawan men and women learn at an early age, are daily rituals. Exercise also increases energy levels and reinforces a sense of community, connection and purpose. They also exercise in the evenings, relieving the day's tension and priming the body for a restful night's sleep.
The Holistic Arts
Important!
"Chura" is an Okinawa word meaning "beautiful"--beautiful environment, beautiful souls, that kind of beauty.
About Okinawa
- The Okinawan: A magazine about karate, sports, culture & nature in Okinawa, Ryukyu, Japan.
- The Okinawan, a quarterly magazine, first English travel magazine for karate people and travelers. Informative, inspiring and high-quality contents about Okinawa and traditional karate and kobudo. In English, French, Spanish and Japanese.
- Okinawa Tea Company - Live Long. Age Well;. - Okinawa Longevity
- Welcome to Okinawa Tea Company, a communitea for enhancing health, wellness, and longevity, discovering simple ways to infuse your daily life with the many benefits of tea, and purchasing authentic Japanese teas.
Big Temple on Okinawa
By libraryman
Cultivate Spirituality
Spirituality also plays a major part of Okinawan life, and may explain why centenarians are better than most at releasing daily problems. Social scientists observe that religion and faith in general are often what keep many centenarians feeling balanced and protected from life's troubles. In addition to religious affiliations, Okinawans seek out other group activities such as dance clubs, friendship circles or gardening clubs that include like-minded people.
Dragon Macro
By libraryman
Learn More About Japanese Culture
Visit Okinawa
- Okinawa blends styles of Japan, China : Lens on Japan
- Gusuku (castles) sites and related properties of Ryukyu Kingdom
Do You Love Okinawa?
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I want to hear from you. Please leave your thoughts and comments or just say hi!
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Al Gagne
Jan 27, 2011 @ 4:47 pm | delete
- I not only love Okinawa I adore the lovely ladies and the great food there. I have been to okinawa several times because my karate system comes from Okinawa City. Shorinryu Karate has its roots there.
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Leon Moses
Jul 25, 2010 @ 8:10 am | delete
- I spent 2 1/2 years on Okinawa back in 1960, and I was very impressed with the people of that Island. I hope someday someone will have a pictorial on the lifestyles and scenery of the various villages, as well as the major cities of Okinawa. I have nothing but fond memories of the people of that Island. I will always cherish those memories.
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roysumit
Feb 26, 2009 @ 12:45 am | delete
- Great lens on Okinawan people and the secret of their longevity. I have read somewhere that the Okinawans regularly eat sea fishes rich in Omega3 fatty acids, in their diet. Omega3 fatty acids are highly benificial for our overall health. Your lens is also quite informative about how to lead a healthy lifestyle and age gracefully. Thanks for sharing and 5*****s.
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New Table of Contents
- My Top Lenses
- Okinawa - The Longevity Island
- Okinawa's Living Relics - Japan
- Okinawa Centenarian Study
- Click The Link To Read About The Okinawa Centenarian Study
- Temple Roof
- The Okinawan Diet
- Add The Okinawan Diet to Your Library
- Fish Market on Okinawa
- Think of Food as Medicine
- Make Exercise a Daily Ritual
- The Holistic Arts
- About Okinawa
- Big Temple on Okinawa
- Cultivate Spirituality
- Dragon Macro
- Learn More About Japanese Culture
- Visit Okinawa
- Do You Love Okinawa?
- Tweets About Okinawa
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