The heaven of longevity is
encountered in the Japanese island of Okinawa, which, besides detaining the
record of longevity and centenaries of the world, is the only place on the
planet where 80-90 years olds live like persons 30 years younger.
Ancient
Chinese legends already called Okinawa "the land of the immortals".
Thousands of people saw it: 7 years ago Seikichi Uehara, 96, defeated an ex box
champ in his 30's. Or the case of Nabi Kinjo, 105, that killed with a
flyswatter a poisonous snake� Here you see 100 years old persons
that do not even think about retirement.
There are 457
persons on Okinawa aged 100 or over, an average of 35 for each 100,000
inhabitants. It is the highest in the world.
If Japanese
people live longer than any other nation, the Okinawa inhabitants reach ages
that take by surprise even the other Japaneses: an average of 86 for women and
78 for men.
But the real
shocking factor is not that Okinawa people reach these ages, but that they get
old in a much better state. The statistics reveal a significantly lower risk of
heart attack and stroke, cancer, osteoporosis, Alzheimer� And some Okinawans on their 90's ensure and reinsure that they still
have sex life (without Viagra). Even if scientists insist that this has not
been tested scientifically.
After decades
of research, medics and anthropologists reached the conclusion that there are
two main factors behind the longevity in this island: alimentation and a
healthy lifestyle that experts believe that can be imitated. The aliments eaten
by the Okinawans can be found everywhere, even if there may be also something
about the soil of the island.
The
traditional diet of Okinawa consists in portions made of a bowl of cooked food
and a fruit. Okinawans eat daily seven portions of vegetables and fruits, seven
of cereals and two of soy products. They take various portions of fish weekly
and very sporadically meat and dairy products. Overall, their diet is low in
calories and contains a lot of vegetables.
Okinawa, the
main island of a tropical chain of 160 coral islets called Ryukyu, has a
volcanic soil, whipped by typhoons and torrential rains, and has not ever lived
in peace or stayed away from epidemics.
During the
Second World War, it was the scene of fierce of a crucial battle. Today, the US
military bases occupy 20 % of its surface and the Okinawa Prefecture is the
poorest province of Japan.
With all that
they have experienced, the elder of Okinawa have surprisingly low depression
levels. On the streets of Okinawa you can see persons aged 90-100 on
motorcycles or mountain bikes, which practice karate, kendo, dance, walk
several kilometers daily, and even work on vegetable gardens and after that
sell their vegetables.
But remember,
these people do not go to fitness gyms (there are no such things in Okinawa)
nor do they practice jogging; they can practice the profound respiration, the
tai-chi, and gardening or other activities in the open that affect positively
the stress level.
They are
rather preoccupied by hobbies, but linked to a social network, that makes them
feel connected to the environment and their fellows and develop their spiritual
side. Physical activity is not isolated, but it has an objective, making the
elders feel active members of the community.
Another factor
in Okinawa is that people take care mutually of each other, forming more
coherent and supportive links than in the western world. And above all, they
have a positive attitude towards life. That explains the extremely low levels
of stress experienced by these elders.
Of course,
there may be a genetic factor contributing to this vitality.
During the
XXth century, 100,000 Okinawans migrated to Brazil, where they adopted the
Brazilian diet, rich in meat. The result was that their average lifespan
lowered with 17 years. When the Okinawan youth started to go to American
Fast-Foods and Pizza Bars, which surround the American bases, the obesity
levels, cardiovascular diseases and premature deaths of the young reached
records in Japan.
