Celebrating a centenary
It's believed that Okinawa has the world's largest number of centenarians, with 50 people per 100,000 aged more than 100 years. In most developed countries including the USA, the rate is between 10 and 20 per 100,000.
One of the factors contributing to Okinawans' longevity, a study shows, is their diet - low in saturated fat but high in seafood, seaweed, fruit and vegetables.
Another striking factor is their low intake of calories, due to a cultural tradition called "hara hachi bu" meaning "eat until you are only 80-per-cent full", which is widely practiced in Okinawa.
The Okinawans consume about 500 calories less than the typical 2,000-plus-calorie diet eaten daily by an adult woman in a Western country.
Based on the Okinawan experience, it can be safely said that the ageing process is influenced by a variety of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. While we can't control all of these, there are lots of things we can do to increase our chances of living longer.
1. Stay active - exercise not only helps keep body fat levels down, it also keeps the brain active. A US study of 6,000 women aged 65 years and above found that those who were active tended to retain their cognitive function better than those who were sedentary.
2. Watch calories - while a severe reduction in calories is not advised if you are normal weight or underweight, try to concentrate on wholesome foods like fruit, vegetables and whole grains, and aim to keep off the kilos.
3. Load up on fruits and vegetables - the more brightly coloured the better. Fruits and vegetables are rich sources of bioflavenoids and other antioxidants, which are known to help neutralise free radicals.
4. Choose good fats - moderate amounts of mono-unsaturated fats (olive oil, canola oil, fatty fish, nuts, seeds, flax). Eat fish two to three times a week.
5. Get enough sleep - a lack of sleep increases the risk of obesity and can affect metabolism and hormone production. Aim for at least seven to eight hours a night.
6. Moderate alcohol - high alcohol intakes are linked to increased body weight and other health issues including certain cancers. If you drink alcohol, limit yourself to just one or two drinks daily and aim for two alcohol-free days a week.
7. De-stress - whatever works for you: meditation, yoga, religion, a simple cup of tea or a walk in a garden.
8. Don't smoke - smoking is linked to an increased risk of cancers, heart disease and stroke.
another gahmen propaganda to make sporeans eat/live healthier, live longer, work longer and be tax longer but they still havent learn from the rapidly increasing grey population problem - stupid gahmen
Okinawa don't have Lee Kuan Yew.
Singapore have Lee Kuan Yew.
oops. wrong thread
Have they been to Okinawa? Are people there over Taxed and over worked as well as over stressed and under paid?
Many okinawans don't see themselves as japanese and I heard they dun sing japanese national anthem in the schools either.
Find another country the size of Singapore, then compare!
nnb....!
If I live in okinawa, dun have to worry abt rising CPI, go back ICT, always upgrading but pay remains stagnant , I'll live longer too
Think u can grow your vegetables too and okinawa girls are cuter than sg ones...I stay younger too
... the only thing one can grow in Singapore is SICKNESS!
Many okinawans don't see themselves as japanese and I heard they dun sing japanese national anthem in the schools either.
Correct, Okinawa was annexed by Japan in 1879.
The people there are not of japanese ethnic group.
Here's a photo site abt okinawa, travel with ur family in june holidays !
Tell me if SG comes close to okinawa culture which is more natural?
... they must have done this survey or research (whatever they call it) with their eyes closed... !
dun like den dun compare lo.. lol.. nobody force u oso.. compare compare in the end die younger nia..
Frankly speaking I rather be okinawan than a singaporean in terms of cultural preservation:) look at the natural glow of the faces of their children and senior citizens..somethings in life you just can't buy and fake
BTW Okinawa island has 2000plus sq km lower populace than us
USA should remove its military bases from Okinawa, the marines keep on raping the poor girls there.
A Message from the Women of Okinawa:
Once again, American GIs have raped an Okinawan girl, one from junior high. We are angry.
We do not believe that all of you are rapists. But given the long history of similar crimes over the sixty years from the Battle of Okinawa continuing to today, one could be forgiven for thinking so. If you are a female GI, can you trust these male GIs ?
We know that this incident is only the tip of the iceberg. There have been so many rape victims who have told no one and wept silently in their beds, that you are probably confident that you could get away with it, aren't you. But those days are now over...
http://www.counterpunch.org/cpnews02212008.html
Please USA, leave Okinawa. You want to play your political games with China, do it elsewhere, don't use Okinawa as a pawn in your stupid games to check China.
Important thing is to get rid of USA troops in northeast asia.
They have about 30,000 troops in south Korea and 50,000 troops in Japan.
One of the aims of these troops is to keep an eye on China.
China don't have troops near USA but USA deploy troops near China.
They think they very big shot the USA, go around spread lies and invade countries and kill rape and toture people.
http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/1112/chalmers_johnson_on_imperial_rights
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article19481.htm
http://globetrotter.berkeley.edu/people4/CJohnson/cjohnson-con1.html
http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0115-08.htm
... I think next time they do a survey or make a comparison, they should OPEN their farking eyes, BIG BIG...