As it turns out, it’s a very long life. A healthy diet, regular physical activity, extended work years, and aggressive government intervention have helped the Nagano region produce the longest life expectancy in Japan, which is the longest in the world.
In Japan, 2 million people are older than 90, and around 69,785 people are 100 or over. The average life expectancy in Japan is 84.2 years. On average, men live up to 81.1 years. Women, on the other hand, live longer, at an average of 87.1 years.
The reason Japan has a longer life expectancy is not because of their genes but because of their food choices and lifestyle habits. Japanese people eat many fresh vegetables, seasonal fruits, and unprocessed foods. As a result, the obesity rate in Japan is just 3.6%, the lowest in the world.
They love seafood and eat more fish than red meat. Japan is among the top six nations for fish consumption. Fish naturally has lower cholesterol and saturated fat than red meat, which reduces the risk of death by heart disease by 36%. One reason why Japanese people live longer is that they drink tea. Their tea contains far more antioxidants than coffee. These boost the immune system and help prevent cancer and excess cholesterol.
Japanese people also consume a lot of soy and seaweed. An estimated 100,000 tons of seaweed is consumed in Japan every year. A cup of seaweed contains somewhere between 2 and 9 grams of protein. It also contains natural iodine, which helps regulate thyroids. Japan has one of the most efficient healthcare systems in the world.
The government pays 70% of all health procedures and up to 90% for low-income citizens. Japanese people’s longer life expectancy stems from controlling food portions. Japanese people are known to have much smaller portions than people from other countries. This habit is good for maintaining body weight and digestion.
6 Reasons why Japanese stay fit and healthy and live long
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Easier access to healthy food Examples
Soy Products
Root Veggies
Mushrooms
Grains
Fish
Seaweeds
Shirataki
Pickled Plum (Ume)
Green Tea -
Sugar Consumption
Japanese consume 56g (2oz/4 tbsp) of sugar daily, while Americans consume 126g of sugar a day (4.40z/10 tbsp).
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Nutritional Education
In Japan, they eat 30 food items a day. Chew well and eat slowly.
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Portion size
No leftover to-go in Japan because they don’t overserve
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Main starch/carbs
In Japan, they cocked rice with plain water and no other add-ons.
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Walk
Japanese walk as part of their daily life. They walk more because public transportation is very advanced and convenient.
Japanese people stay active. They often walk or bike to work. Also, older people in Japan continue to engage in physical activity for as long as possible. About 85% of Japanese people end their day in a bath. Hot baths allow for detoxification through sweating. The heat from the water helps to reduce inflammation and relieve stress. It also improves circulation and boosts the immune system.
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In Japan, older people enjoy longer lives as society considers them living treasures, treating them with the utmost respect.
What else do you think is why the Japanese live longer than any other citizen? Please leave a comment down below! We want to hear from you.
