Why Do The Japanese Have The Longest Lifespan?

A recent statistic in the World Bank Group states that the Japanese have the longest lifespan in the world Japanese men live be 78 years old on average while the average lifespan of a Japanese woman is 85 How do the Japanese do it?

After personally experiencing the Japanese lifestyle in Tokyo for five years, I learned a little about why Japanese people live so long and will share a few of their secrets This month will feature Part 1: It’s All in the Food Part 2: Live the Lifestyle will appear in the April edition of eNews at wwwmagneticrevolutioncom

Part 1: It’s All in the Food

The Japanese diet does not center on delicacies eaten solely for taste In fact, most dishes are consumed based on the health benefits people gain from them Conscious decisions are based on ‘What would be good for me?’ as opposed to ‘What do I feel like eating?’ This leads one to contemplate what is the diet for the average Japanese person and what are their secrets?

Secret 1: Eating fish instead of red meat lowers the risk of heart attacks

For a source of protein, fish is a common staple in most meals Red meat is significantly more expensive and less frequently consumed Fish is healthier and the fresher it is the better Keep in mind that not all fish in Japan is consumed raw, there are many ways that fish is prepared (grilled, baked, fried, poached, etc) and served Furthermore, Japanese women believe that the skin on fish helps bring out the natural beauty of their skin and improves their complexion

Secret 2: Soy products help reduce heart disease and high blood pressure and are a great source of protein

Tofu and soy products are also staples in the Japanese diet Considering that saturated fats from meat and dairy products increase cholesterol, it is encouraging to know that foods derived from plants such as soy actually have the opposite effect Soybeans provide adequate protein without the saturated fat and cholesterol of meats and high-fat dairy Soy sauce, tofu, and natto (soy beans mixed with raw egg served over rice) are a few examples of soy products consumed daily

Secret 3: Wheat and buckwheat flour helps in the digestive process

The consumption of starches is at a minimum and usually contains no white flour Japanese noodles are made from wheat flour or buckwheat flour Both are significantly healthier than enriched white flour Rice is a staple in the diet but consists of a small bowl at meals The significance is to cleanse the mouth when changing dishes Rice will remove the flavor in one’s mouth much like cheese and crackers when sampling wines

Secret 4: Smaller portions reduce the opportunity for excessive eating

Traditional Japanese meals are about half the regular portion of western dishes Even though most dishes are viewed as healthy, portions are still relatively small

Secret 5: Oolong tea counter balances some of the effects unhealthy food has on the body

Finally, the consumption of Japanese green tea or Chinese oolong tea, served hot or cold, has numerous health benefits Tea has half the caffeine of coffee Oolong tea, in particular, helps to break up oil in the digestive system and is usually consumed at mealtime, particularly when fried or breaded foods are being served

These five secrets help to explain why the Japanese are so healthy and have the longest life expectancy Part 2: Live the Lifestyle will appear in next month’s edition of eNews at wwwmagneticrevolutioncom, and will describe daily life habits in Japan If you have any comments or questions please send them to: info@magneticrevolutioncom

Here’s to your health!

Peter McGarry

About The Author

For additional free information on health issues regarding fitness, nutrition, environment and financial well-being please visit wwwmagneticrevolutioncom This site is a guide to improving your quality of life

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