Life Expectancy: Why Japanese Live Longer

Nowadays we are hardly surprised to read news or see that someone from Asia has set a new age record and their birthday cake contains over a hundred candles… but it is interesting to think about how they do it . In this article, we will reveal why the Japanese live longer and how we can learn from their habits to make our lives longer and healthier.

That Japanese people live longer is because of their lifestyle

In Japan (on the island of Okinawa to be exact) there are some of the oldest women in the world. There, the number of obese people is one eighth that of industrialized countries such as the United States, and cardiovascular disease is a rarity.

Life expectancy for the Japanese is about 92 years, but many of them are getting older. And the best part is that they live healthy. While one of the reasons for this is partly genetic, it’s certainly true that their daily habits also contribute to it.

If you’re not blessed with Asian genes, don’t worry, you can still adopt a similar lifestyle and reap the benefits.

Why the Japanese live longer

Did you know that the average person in Japan goes to the doctor once a month? This does not mean that they are hypochondriacs, nor do they like medical examinations, but that they are concerned about their health and confident in preventive treatments. This is just one habit why Japanese live longer. We will discuss other reasons below.

1. An ‘almost’ vegetarian diet

The majority of people who live in Japanese villages (not as much as in the cities) base their diet on fruits, vegetables and grains. Occasionally they add a little fish or red meat that they save for special occasions.

A typical lunch is rich in nutrients and low in calories:

• sautéed vegetables with tofu
• sweet potatoes
• soy sauce

They also don’t consume as much dairy products as we do in the west. They add brown rice and some seaweed to many small dishes for extra flavor.

As for beverages, green tea makes up a big part of their diet. The Japanese drink a few cups of tea between morning and evening (the same as other countries do with coffee).

This tea is rich in antioxidants and good for the digestive system.

2. Walk

They also tend to cycle a lot more, both in the cities and in the countryside. Due to the huge population, cars in Japan are considered luxuries and a waste of time. In public transport, such as the metro or the train, you will see many passengers with bicycles.

In addition, when they need to run errands, go to the doctor or school, they choose to walk instead of using their own vehicle.

This habit has many benefits, especially the benefits for your cardiovascular system. Walking helps prevent heart attacks and improves your respiratory system.

3. They enjoy the fresh air

No matter how much space or time they have to fulfill their obligations, you will always see the Japanese taking care of their plants and flowers. Their gardens may be small, but they are well cared for. There are also people who plant aromatic herbs or small vegetables on their balcony.

It is normal for the Japanese to exercise in the many public parks on fine days in spring or summer. They like to spend time in the fresh air.

Maybe because their houses are small or maybe to take full advantage of the sunlight. This last point alone is good, because it allows them to make vitamin D and absorb calcium.

As you can see, the Japanese are very active even after retirement. They can do many activities and age is no barrier to enjoying them.

4. They spend a lot of time with family

Among all the habits for living longer, we should also mention the habits that are good for your mind, soul or nervous system. Family is the most important thing for Japanese people. When a person gets older, his or her oldest child takes responsibility for the care.

Grandparents spend a lot of time with their grandchildren. Older people are considered a great source of knowledge and experience. This is undoubtedly a good reason for them to feel useful as they are doing something important at home by teaching the little ones something.

5. They don’t live too fast

Of course, this is not always the case in Japan’s major cities. Those who live and work in the metropolis live at a much faster pace. However, they also take time for meditation or practicing relaxation techniques such as Tai Chi.

It is normal to see people doing a certain style of rhythmic or relaxing ‘dance’ in public places. This allows them to reconnect with themselves and to forget about stress.

These are some of the reasons the Japanese live longer and habits that you can adopt no matter where you live.