What makes Japanese people outlive the western population? As a matter of fact, Japan ranks #2 globally in life expectancy. Their average lifespan is 85 years old; Women’s average lifespan is 88, and Japanese men live up to 81 years in average.
Note: This is a guest post by the guys from Japanesup. Send me your guest post request via the CONTACT PAGE. Us weight lifters and even regular (sedentary) people can learn a thing or two from the Japs. Here our friend describes the reasons why she thinks the Japanese generally live longer. Eat your eggs, A-Lifters! (also read our other longevity posts – Sculptors live longer, Weight lifters live longer)
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They are the only big country in the top 5 longest living nations. The rest (Monaco, Macau, Singapore, Same Marino) are city states.
How do the Japanese do it?
Number 1 reason:
Japanese Diet = Ipod of food
-Tend to concentrate energy of food into compact and pleasurable sizes
-Beautiful eye-appealing dishes
-Compared with other developed nations, the Japanese eat fewer Calories perday and per bite
-No food demonization or severe food restriction like what we have in the US
-And they mostly eat in moderation – they tend to stop eating when they are 80% full (Hara Hachi Bu)
Lifestyle: The Japanese stay healthy and active longer
-They are less reliant on Cars, they walk or cycle
-Community groups and neighborhood associations organize communal walks, tai chi, yoga, etc
-they go out more to socialize due to smaller houses
-they postpone retirement/have second careers to work after retiring
Health Consciousness – Government focuses on preventive care and issues food advice
–They have universal healthcare since 1961
-Regular checkups/mass screening for everyone at school/work or in the community by the local government
-Volunteers conduct home visits. Host seminars, clinics and cooking demos at supermarkets, shopping malls and community centers
Okinawa Case Study – Japan’s southernmost prefecture comprising 150 islands in a 1000 Km chain
There are 68 Centenarians per 100,000 residents
Low long term risk of arteriosclerosis, stomach and hormone-dependent (breast, prostate) cancer thanks to diet of:
-Taurine-rich food: Fish, squid, octopus
-Fuciodans-rich food: Seaweed, konbu
-Flavonoid-rich food: tofu
-Doctors created popular “Okinawa Diets” based on this
But due to popularity of fast food among younger generations, Okinawa fell in life expectancy ranking in recent years
If this article was helpful, I am sure our book Real Talk Muscle will help you even more in your quest for muscle gain. Check it out you can read the first few chapters as well.
George "Ironthumb" Romasanta on Google+
