Secret Of Longevity: Follow The Example Of Okinawans

If only we all knew the secret to the fountain of youth it would help us stay young throughout our lives. However, it is quite a good idea, if one is not privy to such secrets, to take the advice of those who have lived long enough, or who know a thing or two about longevity. It seems that the Japanese may know the secret of longevity for some of the healthiest people live in a place called Okinawa. They have the most people per capita of all the countries in the world that have lived for a hundred years or more.

Three Times As Many Centurions As Compared To America

Okinawa has three times the number of centurions as compared with the United States and the people there are less at risk of heart disease as compared with Americans. Also, they have an eighty percent (it is believed) less chance of having breast as well as prostate cancer as compared to Americans. It would be wise to delve into their lifestyles and find out what the secret of longevity of these people really is.

To begin with, the secret of longevity of these people is in having a positive as well as optimistic attitude in life, and the Okinawans are known to believe that all things in life work out for the better in the long run. This translates into less stress. According to experts, such a relaxed way of living promotes good health and thus longevity.

The second secret of longevity of these people is that they like to cultivate strong relationships. They will get together with their friends, chat and laugh and be supportive of each other. Studies on such matters point to people staying healthier when they enjoy good relationships and lead a positive, as well as active social life.

Another secret of longevity is to eat healthy food. The traditional Okinawan diet is simple while also being wholesome. Eating fish with lots of proteins as well as omega-3 oils along with plant foods rich in vitamins and minerals plus phytonutrients all contribute to their living longer. Also, eating less is what keeps these people healthier longer – in fact, they take five hundred to one thousand calories less each day as compared to Americans or those that live in modern societies. Such low calorie diets help in reducing the risk of becoming overweight, and also promote longevity.

Other secrets to longevity of these people include leading active lives as well as refraining from bad habits. However, the next generation of Okinawans are becoming less adhering to these secrets of longevity and are indulging in more sedentary activities, and are being more affected by more of the foreign influences from countries of the West that will surely mean that we shall not see them live as long as their older generations.