Okinawa is the fifth largest island in Japan. In addition to being an excellent choice for many people to travel abroad, it also has a reputation as a health and longevity village. Research statistics show that on average, there are 68 centenarians for every 100,000 Okinawans or those about to reach 100. Scientists have been keen to explore their secrets to longevity.
TOKYO, JAPAN (Merxwire) – Okinawa, located in the Pacific Ocean, is Japan’s fifth largest island. It has a warm subtropical climate all year round. It combines Japan’s progressive development with the island’s natural beauty and resort-style. In addition to being an excellent choice for many people to travel abroad, it also has a reputation as a health and longevity village. Research statistics show that on average, 68 out of every 100,000 Okinawans are centenarians, or are about to reach a centenarian age. Scientists have been keen to explore their secrets to longevity.
In terms of area scale, compared with the United States of the same area, the number of centenarians is more than three times that of the United States. Compared with other parts of Japan, Okinawa has a 40% higher chance of reaching 100 years of age. Moreover, the average life span of residents is not only among the best in the world, but the vast majority of senior citizens also live very healthy lives. Scientists believe the main reason Okinawans are less susceptible to illness and live longer is their eating habits.
The first secret scientists discovered was a diet with a high ratio of carbohydrates to protein. A research team from the University of Sydney specializing in nutrition and aging found that the eating habits of Okinawa residents are exactly the opposite of the high-protein-low-carbohydrate ratio favored by modern people. And the famous “Okinawa ratio” the ratio of carbohydrates to the protein of 10:1, is used as the gold standard for daily diet. New research confirms that a high-carbohydrate and low-protein diet can help prevent cardiovascular disease, cancer, and age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. So the Okinawa proportions may have helped them achieve a certain optimal dietary balance.
One worth mentioning is that the main source of carbohydrates and calories in their diet is the famous Beni Imo. Unlike other Asians, the staple food of Okinawans is not rice, but Beni Imo. Beni Imo, also known as purple potato or red taro, is composed of red taro and white taro stems. The natural red-purple color is the natural antioxidant anthocyanin, which shows its high nutritional value. Beni Imo are well suited to growing in Okinawa because they require sufficient moisture and sunlight to grow.
Beni Imo was introduced to Okinawa during trade with the Dutch around the beginning of the 17th century. It is sticky and elastic when eaten, has a sweet taste, and is rich in nutritional value. Contains anthocyanins, vitamin C, beta-carotene, dietary fiber, potassium, and other vitamins and minerals. Helps improve immunity, resist aging and antioxidants, promote digestive function, stabilize blood pressure and blood sugar, and maintain cardiovascular health. Okinawans eat it steamed, fried, or made into pastries. Whenever you go to Okinawa, you will see souvenirs featuring Beni Imo flavors all over the streets, which shows its popularity.
In addition to Beni Imo, Okinawan people’s eating habits are mainly plant-based food, and they eat a lot of yellow and green vegetables, such as the famous Nigauri. Nigauri is mainly produced in spring and summer, but it can be grown throughout the country and harvested throughout the year. It often appears in various Okinawan cuisines, not only to stimulate appetite but also to aid digestion. Soy products are also their favorite ingredients, such as soy juice, miso, tofu, natto, etc., which contain soy phytochemicals with excellent anti-inflammatory effects. At the same time, they are often paired with various sea vegetables to supplement iodine, vitamin B complex, and prebiotic fiber.
In addition to supplementing the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants our bodies need, traditional Okinawa eating habits are also low in calories. Studies have proven that low-calorie intake helps regulate the body, protect cardiovascular systems, control weight, maintain healthy skin and hair, and fight aging and cancer. Before Western food culture entered Okinawa, the average caloric intake of Okinawan adults was 11% less than that of ordinary adults, which helped slow down the aging rate of the body and support cell repair.
Therefore, the type of food they like and the high proportion of vegetables are important reasons for the longevity of Okinawans. In addition, the elderly in Okinawa have the habit of “eating eighty percent” derived from Confucianism, which means paying attention to the five senses and inner satisfaction as a signal to end a meal rather than eating everything on your plate. In addition, dinner should be eaten in the evening, allowing the stomach and intestines to rest longer at night. Try to maintain an early bedtime routine, which will also help reduce the occurrence of diseases.
Scientists believe that in addition to dietary habits, Okinawa is an isolated archipelago and maintains a certain distance from other landmasses, which can also help reduce genetic-related diseases. For example, the lower prevalence of APOE4 gene variants reduces the risk of heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease. They are more likely to carry protective variants of the FOXO3 gene that regulates metabolic function and cell growth. Although this variant may make you shorter, it also reduces the risk of some age-related diseases. Therefore, about two-thirds of the elderly in Okinawa can live independently and healthily before the age of 97, and the rates of cancer, diabetes, and dementia are also lower than in other countries.
According to statistical data from the “Okinawa Centenarian Study” (OCS), Okinawa people mainly work in agriculture and fishery, so they have more opportunities to exercise, and the proportion of smokers is lower than in other countries. It also has a close-knit community and social atmosphere, both of which are conducive to developing a healthy physique. They developed moai social support groups to support people from childhood to old age. Through regular gatherings of acquaintance groups, they discuss individual needs and support each other when members are in need, which has become a uniting force that unites the people.
“OCS” has been investigating the health status of the elderly in Okinawa since 1975. The survey covers more than 150 islands in the prefecture and has surveyed more than 1,000 centenarians so far. Therefore, it has certain credibility in discussing the longevity issue of the elderly in Okinawa. It can be seen from this that the secret of healthy aging in Okinawa, the world’s number one longevity village, is local ingredients with high nutritional value, high carbohydrate and vegetable food culture, a certain degree of labor, and a good social life. If you want to live a long and healthy life, start implementing it in the Okinawan’s daily life now.