The Japanese secret of longevity is revealed
The Japanese secret of longevity is revealed
Do you want to live long and stay healthy?
It seems that Japan is an example of a country where the average age of the population is longer than the population of Asia and other countries. How come?
Japan is famous not only for its developed country but also
for its extraordinary life expectancy. The average life expectancy of the
Japanese population is 83.89 years, many even reach 100 years! This contrasts
with the life expectancy of the Indonesian population which only reaches 69.19
years.
Do you know what is the secret behind the longevity of the
Japanese population? What kind of lifestyle and diet do they apply?
According to the idntimes.com article, the secret of
longevity and staying healthy among Japanese people starts with their diet and
lifestyle.
Japanese cuisine generally contains a lot of vegetables.
Traditionally, Japanese people eat vegetables, rice, and seafood. They also add
variety to the diet, from mushrooms, and fermented soybeans to seaweed.
For example, the Tsukemono pickled dish is made from various
vegetables, such as radishes, eggplant, and plums. Japanese people also like to
eat edamame nuts as a snack. Other vegetables that are widely consumed are
onions, radishes, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, spinach, cucumbers, sweet
potatoes, green peppers to potatoes.
It was also revealed that Japanese people are used to
consuming green tea (Japanteaandmore.de). Because they are used to and
regularly consume green tea, it has implications for the longevity of the
Japanese population. Green tea contains many antioxidants that can make us live
longer and avoid various diseases. Another benefit of green tea is that it can
reduce the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and degenerative diseases.
Japan has a special green tea called matcha. It is a fine
green tea powder and is drunk by brewing it with hot water. Green tea is
usually drunk in the morning or evening and is often served to guests or when
there is a special banquet.
Japancookforyourlife.org also revealed that Japanese food is
cooked in a variety of ways, such as steaming, grilling, slow cooking, and
fermenting food. This variation keeps the vitamin and mineral content in the
food maintained. So, we can get complete nutrition from these foods.
In contrast to the lifestyle of Indonesians and other people
in other countries, Japanese people are used to eating small portions. They are
used for serving everything in small containers, such as rice, soup, side
dishes, or vegetables. Portion control is part of traditional Japanese
etiquette and is taught from an early age.
This includes the practice of eating on a small plate or
bowl, not filling the plate completely, serving each food item on a small
plate, and not overeating. In Japan, there is a saying 'hara hachi bu' which
means eat until you feel 80 percent full.
Another habit in developing countries like Indonesia is that
it is always tempting to ride a motorbike, car or other types of public
transportation, even though the destination is very close. This is different
from the Japanese style of activity.
We have a habit of going everywhere by private vehicle. In
fact, just go to a nearby minimarket on a motorbike. This contrasts with the
habits of the Japanese population. Every day, they are used to walking long
distances. For example, from home to the train station to go to school or work.
Based on research, regular walking can increase life
expectancy. According to researchers from the US National Cancer Institute, if
we remain physically active after the age of 40, it will increase our life
expectancy by two to seven years, according to the Health Day page.
Meanwhile, in other countries such as America, as many as 32
percent of the population has a BMI above 30. In Indonesia alone, obesity is
experienced by 23-28 percent of the population. This is based on research
published in the Medical Journal of Indonesia. With low obesity rates, the risk
of the Japanese population getting sick will be smaller.
If you have ever visited Japan, you will know that the
country is very clean. It seems the Japanese are obsessed with cleanliness. In
this case, we know that cleanliness is associated with health. Their culture
mostly comes from the Shinto tradition where the main teachings are about the
concept of purification.
Shinto, the original religion of Japanese society, is very
respectful of purity, even though we are obliged to wash our hands and face before
entering a Shinto shrine. Cleanliness is associated with good morals for the
Japanese population. In addition, Japanese people have a habit of bathing twice
a day or more when summer arrives.
Another secret to Japanese people's longevity is that they
like to socialize. Eating or drinking with colleagues after work is common in
Japan. According to the Tofugu website, although this activity can reduce sleep
time, socializing is very important for human psychological health.
So, the more often we socialize, the more we will continue
to enjoy life. That's what the Japanese people believe and do consistently.
Socializing is not only for young people, but older people always take the time
to chat, either with family, relatives, or friends.
If you are interested in living a healthy and long life, as
well as being happy, then the Japanese lifestyle seems suitable to be imitated
in our daily lives.
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