5 POINTS ON OKINAWA

 

1.    Okinawa is a small Island in Japan. Some of the people who live there are the poorest people of the country. But Okinawans enjoy riches of a different kind- they have the longest life expectancy rate in the world.

2.    Okinawans don’t wait out the final years of their lives in hospitals or convalescent care facilities. They remain healthy through their final days. Dementia, senility, and coronary heart disease are almost non-existent among these older Okinawans.

3.    The Okinawan diet consists mostly of vegetables and whole grains. They also eat a lot of fruits, soy products, like tofu, and fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as tuna, mackerel, and salmon. Most Okinawans drink at least six glasses of water and six cups of tea every day. The green tea that many of them drink is lower in caffeine than other teas and rich in antioxidants, which are believed to help prevent cancer, heart disease, and stroke.

4.    Okinawans continue to practice martial arts, ride bicycles, dance, garden, walk, and fish well into their old age, which helps keep them looking and feeling healthy. They have relaxed schedules, which reduces their stress levels. And they pay attention to their spirituality and their inner selves through prayer and meditation. Each of these behaviours is an important piece of the Okinawan formula for health and longevity.

5.    There is evidence that it is their behaviour, not genetics, that allows Okinawans to live longer than most of us. This means that here is hope for the rest of us to learn the habits that Okinawans have developed so we can live long, healthy lives too.