The survey shows that Japan is the country with the longest life expectancy and average life expectancy of the population, with an overall life expectancy of 83.7 years. Among them, the average life expectancy of women is 87.1 years, ranking first. The average male life expectancy ranks third among men in the world. Experts believe the reason why the Japanese live longer is related to their healthy eating habits and progressive medical care.

TAIPEI, TAIWAN (Merxwire) – According to “The World Factbook” survey data, Japan is the country with the longest life expectancy and average life expectancy of the population, with an overall life expectancy of 83.7 years. The average life expectancy of women is 87.1 years, ranking first among women. The average life expectancy of men is 81.1 years, ranking third among men. The reason why the Japanese live so long may be related to their healthy eating habits and progressive medical care.

The number one secret of Japanese longevity is healthy eating habits. The Japanese maintain health and wellness according to the perfect diet recommended by Hippocratic, the father of ancient Greek medicine in the fifth century BC, emphasizing eating lightly but with balanced nutrition. The daily diet is mainly based on foods rich in minerals and vitamins such as rice, grains, fish, tofu, miso, and seaweed. These foods contain less sugar and saturated fat and may reduce the chances of obesity, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

Regarding dietary concepts, Japan has the principle of eating only 80% full, which is one of their important health concepts. The more food we eat, the greater the inflammatory stress on the body, so overeating is not advisable. However, during the eating process, the brain usually receives the signal of fullness 20 minutes after eating the food, and by that time, it is often in a state of overfullness. This principle can remind you not to overeat.

In addition to not eating too much, they also reduce the portions of food on the table and eat more slowly. Japanese people are used to serving food in smaller utensils, and then the family sits in front of the dining table together and eats slowly with chopsticks. Slowing down your eating speed and prolonging your eating time will help your gastrointestinal digestion. They believe that conscious eating and eating the right way are helpful for gut health and it can reduce inflammation in the body and reduce the risk of dementia and stroke.

Drinking matcha is also one of the important longevity secrets for Japanese people. Matcha is listed as one of the top ten superfoods. It has excellent antioxidant effects and can resist aging and cancer, improve immunity, promote digestion, regulate blood pressure, beautify the skin, and help lose weight. Matcha powder is kept in every Japanese home. They drink it and use it in their cooking to maintain their health. In addition, a nutritious lunch guide is prepared from early childhood, hoping that children will develop good eating habits from an early age. Therefore, the Japanese can maintain a low obesity rate of 4.3%.

In addition to healthy eating habits, Japan’s advanced medical care is also world-famous and can serve as the backbone of healthy retirement for the elderly. From the medical environment, medical level, and technical equipment to the sound medical insurance system, everyone appreciates it. The Japanese government pays 70% of the medical expenses for the general public and 90% of the expenses for low-income people. At the same time, routine health examinations are also arranged in schools and workplaces to detect and prevent the occurrence or worsening of illnesses in advance. Coupled with the complete nursing homes, Japan has become an ideal retirement place for the elderly and has also increased the average life expectancy.

The daily exercise habits of the Japanese also contribute to their longevity. Studies have found that people who are inactive and sit for long periods are more likely to develop chronic diseases. According to statistics, about 98% of students in Japan ride bicycles or walk to school. Office workers also often walk or ride bicycles to the station and walk to the company for work after getting off the bus or train. Housewives often use bicycles to go shopping or pick up their children, and elderly people often exercise in parks to keep their bodies flexible. Morning exercise music will also be played in schools, companies, and morning broadcasts to activate muscles and bones from the morning.

Experts believe that the Japanese habit of kneeling and sitting is also the secret to their health and longevity. When eating, they will kneel on the tatami or cushions in the seiza style, placing their body weight on their calves and the soles of their feet under their hips. This posture helps maintain their body’s balance, strength, and flexibility. Research also believes that Japanese people originally had two longevity genes, namely DNA 5178 and ND2-237 Met. This makes them more resistant to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and reduces the incidence. However, whether these genes can play a role depends on acquired influences and varies from person to person.

There is a spirit in Japan called “the meaning of living” (Ikigai). They believe that if they can find their own life goals, they can become the motivation to support their lives, and can also urge themselves to maintain good living habits and reduce the occurrence and worsening of diseases. Japanese society values ​​”healthy aging” and “non-retirement life”. They hope to maintain good health, maintain basic labor even in old age, and even continue to work to keep themselves active and provide economic productivity. Perhaps no matter your age, if you can find your goals and continue to live a vigorous life, you will have the opportunity to live a long and healthy life.