Why Do Japanese live longer

than the rest of us?

By:

Dr Madan M Vasandani

The oldest people live in Japan. An average male in Japan lives up to the age of 79 and female up to the age of 86 years. This life expectancy is actually the highest in the world. What is actually staggering is that their life expectancy was the lowest in the world after World War II. Hence it is not genetics that causes them to live longer. I mean I know that the world is not an easy place to live in and most of you are not really keen to live up to a 100, but maybe we can learn a bit from the Japanese on how to live healthier and hence more comfortable and also more independent.

                                       Their Food

a.       They eat more tofu than any of us. Tofu is high in protein and low in calorie and fills us up more than most other items that are high in protein   

a.       Fish – Their primary meat is fish whilst ours is mostly chicken and red meat. Fish meat is high in protein and also in fish oils which according to numerous studies improves blood flow.

b.      Sea weed – By now all of you must have eaten in one of the Japanese restaurants in Jakarta. Sea weed is a staple. Sea weed is rich in iodine which helps in fighting cancer

c.       Tea – The amount of tea that is drunk in Japan is staggering. They are a tea drinking society while all of us drink coffee. Green tea is high in antioxidants which aids in anti- ageing.

d.      More vegetables – Most Japanese cuisine will have vegetables in it. However small the quantity but it is always there.

e.      Less milk, butter, dairy – Did you know that if you are an adult there is no need for you to drink milk. Calcium has many sources and milk is just one of them. Milk even skimmed or low fat are still high in fats and calories

     Walk, walk and walk more

It is a known fact – proved by numerous studies – that if you stand and walk more you live longer. In Jakarta we even drive to reach the house next door. And to top this all, we sit down when we reach. We are sitting/lying down 23 hours per day. In the Canon factory in Japan, the board of directors actually took away all the chairs from the work place and they placed alarms in different parts of the building which goes on if you walk too SLOW.  You might think that this is too much but we all know the amazing products that Canon gives us.

   Cleanliness

Japan is probably the cleanest place on the Earth. Some even say that you can eat off the road. In Japan cleanliness is often an obsession. Leaving your shoes when you enter a house, even when you enter hotels is a norm. Washing hands when you walk in a company is many times a company policy rather than a habit. Living amongst clean people makes you clean and this is especially beneficial as we grow older when we are more at risk of getting infections.                                                                        .

                                                     The Family and the social

In Japan, the culture is that the oldest child takes care of the mother and the father when they get old. Because of this the grandma and the grandpa are always around their grandkids and also their children which increases interactions leading to joy and laughter. All this prevents depression which is common among the old and can lead to decreased life span. In Japan socializing and drinking is a very common thing. Companies encourage their employees to go out and have fun after work. This builds a person’s confidence and also his network. He enjoys life more and hence live longer.

                If you want to live longer and also healthier, just change your lifestyle. There is so much to learn from the Japanese. Let’s not only be consumers to their electronic and car industry, let’s be students to the way they live. Sometimes the best way to get ahead is by learning from the very best. 

Have a great April my fellow readers.