新书解释冲绳人长寿的秘密

08 新书解释冲绳人长寿的秘密

New Book Explains the Secrets of 1)Okinawan2)Longevity

Amy Bickers

3)Tokyo

15 Jun 2001 08:03 UTC

The Okinawa islands in Southern Japan are home to the world's greatest number of 4)centenarians, people more than a hundred years old. If you would like to know the secrets to their longevity, a new book not only explains it, but also looks at how people everywhere can live long, productive lives.

The Japanese 5)archipelago of Okinawa, southwest of Tokyo, is known to people around the world as the site of one of the 6)fiercest battles of World War II. But within Japan, Okinawa is well known for a happier phenomenon: the

7)unrivalled longevity of its residents. Okinawans have the longest life

8)expectancy on the planet. The islands are home to more than 400 centenarians, many of them still 9)gardening, exercising and fully 10)participating in community life.

Twenty-five years ago, a group of scientists undertook a government-

11)sponsored study to find out not only why Okinawans live so long, but why they also look younger than their age.

The answers are in a new book called the Okinawa Program. The scientists say Okinawan longevity has little to do with 12)genetics and has everything to do with lifestyle choices.

Craig Willcox co-authored the Okinawa Program. He says nearly everyone can benefit from practicing good habits common among many older Okinawans, particularly when it comes to food. "If we look at the diet, it has got a very good balance, including an 13)appropriately small amount of meat. It is also very high in 14)tofu," he says. "It is a diet high in 15)Omega-3 16)fatty

17)acids, which are heart healthy. There are a lot of vegetables in the diet, very high amounts of green and yellow vegetables, and a small amount of salt." The book notes that older Okinawans get regular physical exercise. They garden, perform traditional dances and do 18)martial arts such as 19)karate, which was originally developed in Okinawa.

Twenty-five years of research also shows that cultivating a positive mental outlook and developing inner peace are also important. Mr. Willcox says older Okinawans stay vital in part because they are 20)revered by and active in their community. "A lot of the elderly they) live in rural areas," he says. "We found very high levels of social interaction, particularly among older women. There

is a lot of visiting going on every day and neighbors are like family in Okinawan villages."

Mr. Willcox notes that 21)spirituality and the strong positive role of women may also be key factors in promoting longevity. "What we found is that women are the spiritual leaders in Okinawan society," he says. "You do not see this elsewhere, whereas in Okinawa, women are the publicly acknowledged leaders of society. We think that this gives particularly women an edge in the longevity game."

But Okinawa's unique place as longevity capital of the world is in

22)jeopardy. Younger Okinawans have moved away from the life-preserving habits of their elders and towards a more 23)Westernized way of life. They are less physically active and their diets are not as healthy.