In 1975, the Japan Ministry of Health funded a study of the elderly residents of Okinawa, the country's southernmost prefecture. The study found that the area's residents were the longest-lived people in the world. Scientists studied their diet and lifestyle in order to learn more about the foods and habits that improve health and longevity.
Chample
A culinary meal most Okinawans eat, chample, contains tofu, soy beans and goya, a type of bitter gourd. The ingredients contain high levels of plant estrogens, vitamins B and C and flavonoids that confer powerful antioxidant effects. The Okinawa Centenarian study's researchers attribute the area's low incidence of cancer to the high flavonoid and isoflavone content of Okinawans' dietary choices. The antioxidants in flavonoids protect cells from free radical damage that may contribute to the development of cancer. The soy beans' isoflavones may prevent the development of reproductive cancers by correcting hormonal imbalances.
Home Gardens
The majority of Okinawans eat foods they grow at home in their gardens. The fresh, whole foods they grow include spices, herbs and fruits. Vegetables they grow include radishes, scallions, cabbage, garlic, tomatoes and turmeric. These foods contain high levels of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that help prevent disease.
Moderate Quantiites, Healthy Foods
Okinawans eat foods that satisfy their hunger, according to Makoto Suzuki of the Okinawa Centenarian Study, however, the foods have few calories and provide satiety without weight gain or cardiovascular disease risk. Eating habits developed during World Ward II carried over into adulthood for many Okinawan residents that conserve foods and avoid overindulging during mealtimes.
Lifestyle and Community
Okinawans live a lifestyle based on hard work and routines that provides them with a mission and sense of belonging. The lifestyle may help engage older residents that may otherwise become disconnected from their community. The Okinawan people also have a support network called moai that helps them obtain financial and personal support.
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