Live Better, Longer and Healthier with These 8 Tips
By: Sandy | Posted: 30th March 2009
Today everyone wants to live better, live longer and healthier lives. It is a well known secret that Okinawa is home to some of the longest living people in the world. They have 3 times the more than 100 year old people than the United States. So how do they do it and what exactly do they do to live longer.
Not long ago a 25 year study was completed and compare to Americans the results showed the following:
~ 80% less risk of prostrate and breast cancer
~ 50% less risk of ovarian and colon cancer
~ 40% fewer hip fractures
~ Only minimal heart disease risk
So what could this small area of the world know that a large super power doesn't?
1. It all begins with attitude ~ Most Americans are type A personalities and suffer from hurry sickness. Okinawans believe that life will work itself out and work at a steady pace. Stress is not internalized while Americans are eaten up with it.
Why is stress such an important factor? Stress tells your body to begin secreting large quantities of cortisol and other stress hormones. They have a direct link to damagin your heart, blood vessels and also accelerate bone loss.
2. Low calorie diet is a big factor for Okinawans. They generally eat on average 1,900 calories to the American 2,500 (or more). Studies have shown that maintaining a modest diet compared to free-consumption allows people to live 50% longer.
3. Plant food makes up 80% of the Okinawans diet. Plants such as sweet potatoes, grains, fruits and vegetables. Plant foods are also high in natural fiber which lowers cholesterol and reduces the risk of heart disease and diabetes not to mention breast cancer.
4. Soy consumption for elderly Okinawans such as tofu, soybean sprouts and miso soup is generally 2 times a day. Soy is rich in flavonoids which help reduce LDL and reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke.
5. Fish... I know you were looking for it. Yes the Omega-3 rich fish help thin the blood and reduce the risk of clots - the main cause of heart attack. Omega-3 is also known to reduce the risk of inflammatory issues like arthritis.
6. Tea is a daily beverage and especially Jasmine Tea which contains lots of antioxidants compared to black tea.
7. Social contact is a must. The Okinawans generally look out for their neighbors and maintain active social networks. When one falls sick, that same network supports the person which in turn allows them to recover more quickly.
8. Exercise is practiced by Okinawans in the form of martial arts, and traditional style dance. Providing aerobic, strengthening and flexibility excercises all in 2 long term programs.
What can we Americans learn from this study? Since 2009 is the year of change in many ways for us we can learn to change our diets, eat better which means less proccessed foods and begin a basic exercise program to include flexibility exercises. The improvement will be noticed in very little time and who knows it might even help your wallet at the same time.
So come on America... this is the year of change... take the challenge... live better, longer and healthier with these 8 tips.
This article is free for republishing
Printed From: http://www.a1articles.com/live-better-longer-and-healthier-with-these-8-tips-841610.html
Back to the original article
Tags: fruits and vegetables, breast cancer, sweet potatoes, flavonoids, risk of heart disease, colon cancer, omega 3, heart disease and diabetes, steady pace, natural fiber, stress hormones, risk of heart attack, heart blood, heart disease risk, low calorie diet, plant food, rich fish