Recently, it is said that Japan is the country with the highest life expectancy.
In fact, according to the 2014 World Health Statistics, the Japanese average is 84 years. For men, it averages 80 years (8th place in the world), and for women - 87 years (first place in the world).
In addition, as of August 2014, the oldest man and woman in the world, recorded in the Guinness Book of Records, who lived to be 111 and 116 respectively, hailed from this country.
Many researchers, and not only, want to know what is the secret of Japanese longevity. Scientists find out how individual risk factors (and especially those that a person can control) are related and various diseases. Using a comparable methodology and other methods of statistical analysis, they examine how these risks vary depending on the age, gender and socio-economic status of people.
Identification of risk factors and pathologies
One of the areas of research conducted by Japanese scientists is to determine the relationship between certain risk factors and pathologies in later life. This study began in the 90s of the twentieth century. Scientists are watching people who were at that time from 40 to 69 years old. They are examined every 5 and 10 years, people themselves undergo regular examinations for diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases, deaths are also taken into account for other reasons. These studies focus on premature death and what factors exacerbate this.
Smoking, alcohol and green tea
Some of the results of this work show that smoking increases the risk of premature death by 1.5 times compared with non-smokers. The researchers also found that the risk ratio for colorectal cancer for Japanese people who drink alcohol is higher than their Western counterparts. This is due to the fact that it is estimated that 50% of the Japanese population does not have an enzyme for acetaldehyde metabolism. On the other hand, they found that regular consumption of green tea and, to a certain extent, coffee, reduces the relative risks of death from major diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, and contributes to the longevity of the Japanese.
Could lifestyle be more important than genetic factors?
Genetic factors, apparently, play only a small role when it comes to the longevity of the Japanese, and lifestyle is much more important. For example, women in this country live longer due to their healthy lifestyle, which includes a better diet, especially for those over 50. The Japanese also consume less meat and animal fat than Westerners in general, and eat more fish. Proper food is also the reason for the longevity of the Japanese.
Women over 50 also drink much less alcohol than men and almost never smoke, which means they are half as likely to get stomach or liver cancer as men. Drinking less alcohol also reduces the risk of colorectal cancer and breast cancer in women.
In addition, the possibility of achieving longevity on hunger by the Japanese, Nobel laureate Esinori Osumi, was proven.
Obesity in Japan is still rare
In general, studies show that the incidence of cancer in Japan is generally much lower than in European countries, and that obesity is quite rare, since the Japanese usually have a lower body mass index or BMI (weight in kg / cm 2). This primarily applies to young age groups and especially to women.
Until now, research has mainly focused on people born in the 20s and 30s of the twentieth century, and those who were born after 1960 were hardly studied. This population group is more familiar with fast food, in particular, with alcohol. Compared to previous generations, their diet is more in line with Western style.
Future research
According to scientists, it is extremely important to distinguish between life expectancy at birth and average age of death when interpreting data on life expectancy. The first statement means how many years people expect to live, and the second - how much they really lived. In addition, life expectancy at birth significantly affects the mortality rate in childhood, and this does not always correlate with the mortality rate in old age. For example, life expectancy of 80 years for Japanese women was 11.3% in 2011, which is less than in some other countries. Therefore, although the findings of scientists are relevant to older people and important to them, research on younger populations will indeed be important, including to discover other secrets of Japanese longevity.
Lifestyle
Research is of great importance to health policymakers in making lifestyle recommendations. Since it has the longest life expectancy in the world, the entire global community will closely monitor the recommendations put forward by Japanese health care policy makers. Moreover, neighboring countries such as Korea, China and Taiwan, which have a similar lifestyle, will also closely monitor these recommendations.
Researchers are now turning their attention, among other things, to the increase in cases of observed dementia in Japan. In the aging process, unfortunately, there is a risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases, but the problem is that people suffering from this condition are difficult to quantify.
Numerous studies have not identified a clear causal relationship. However, there are 5 main factors - the secrets of longevity of the Japanese, which lead to good health and long life.
Diet
It is believed that one of the main causes of longevity in Japan is a proper diet. Here are the two main points related to Japanese food:
- nutrition must have a proper balance,
- food should be moderate and taken in portions.
A balanced diet in Japan is as follows. As a rule, the Japanese food menu for longevity includes soup and three types of vegetables with rice as the main dish. This, according to the Japanese, creates an excellent nutritional balance. Accordingly, it should be considered the secret of Japanese longevity. Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries says that traditional Japanese foods, low in fat and low in calories, are one of the factors that increase Japanese longevity.
The Japanese diet makes it difficult to consume excess calories. This is also the secret to the harmony of the Japanese. Unlike a wheat and meat-based diet, Japanese foods are low-fat, low-calorie, balanced, and good for maintaining good health.
The moderate nutrition of the Japanese for longevity is of great importance and its justification. The phrase "moderate food" became popular in Japan during the Edo era. In Japan, eating moderately means that instead of eating up to a feeling of fullness, you should eat until the stomach feels that it is 4/5 full, and then stop. It is believed that it is good for health and longevity.
In fact, this has recently been confirmed by scientific research. The only difference is that you should stop eating at 70% fullness of the stomach.
Japanese scientists say that if you reduce daily calorie intake by 25%, sirtuin proteins will be activated, namely they inhibit various causes of aging.
Hygiene
It is believed that Japan is one of the most obsessed with clean societies in the world. The pursuit of cleanliness is another secret of Japanese longevity. Hygiene protects the body against infectious diseases and all types of microbes. There are several examples of how Japanese maintain a high level of personal hygiene.
Firstly, this is the habit of swimming. The Japanese do not like to take a shower, but often use bathtubs. In their opinion, taking a bath in a large amount of water every day has a positive effect on the prevention of diseases, it remains clean, but there are also many advantages beyond this:
- Thermotherapeutic effect. When immersed in a bath, body temperature rises, capillaries stretch and blood circulation improves. In addition, the metabolic rate rises, fatigue disappears, and muscle tension is relieved.
- The effect of the water pressure that it exerts on the body. It affects the subcutaneous blood vessels, activates blood circulation, improving the flow of blood and lymphatic fluid.
- Buoyancy effect. In water, body weight decreases significantly. Due to this, the muscles and joints that usually support body weight can calm down, and the tension goes away.
It is believed that if you daily experience the effects of these effects, your health condition will improve, and even in old age you can still remain energetic.
Secondly, the Japanese take off their street shoes before entering the house. Historically, they never wore shoes in the house so as not to bring dirt. This is one of their easiest ways to keep clean. Even public services keep a high level of cleanliness. Recently, in Japanese public libraries, books that have been issued and returned are disinfected and sterilized. For this "book soul" they use ultraviolet rays to disinfect, and then the books are blown to remove any debris so that the publication comes to the next reader in its purest form.
Public transport also has high standards of cleanliness. For example, there is a special brush for cleaning the seats, which has a humidity sensor, and if the seat is wet, an alarm will sound.
It can be said that this lifestyle helps protect older people from diseases caused by unhygienic conditions.
High level of social activity
This factor also relates to the secret of Japanese longevity. According to scientists, the presence of a specific and emotional connection with society, even after reaching old age, is one of the factors and causes of longevity. In Japan, there are two points related to the high level of participation of people in public life.
The first is the employment of people over 65 years old. Japanese older people are known worldwide for their high level of participation in society. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan stated the following: at the age of 65, 4,950,000 people still work in the country. The share of working people over 65 years old is 19.4% of their total number.
If we look at people of the same age in different Western countries, then in the USA the share of working seniors is 14.5%, 7.9% in Canada, 6.3% in England and 3.4% in Germany .
A lot of Japanese people are just wondering what to do after retirement. Instead of spending time in the home, it’s easier for many people to continue to work and be an active member of society.
Secondly, it is the enjoyment of everyday life. Many of the elderly in Japan remain active in their community thanks to the Neighborhood Association and even joint games. According to a cabinet investigation, about 60% of older people in Japan participate in community activities. According to the same study, 80% of Japanese elderly people think that they have a purpose in life.
It seems that one of the secrets of a long life is the continuation of activity in the community, the pleasure of a hobby and a specific goal in life, no matter how old a person is.
Health Consciousness
This type of thinking is another secret of longevity and health of the Japanese. It manifests itself in the usual, everyday way of life. For example, they regularly use dry towel wipes. This method of healing in Japan has been known since time immemorial. Yuichiro Miura, an adventurer who, at the age of 80, became the oldest person to climb Everest, woke up early in the mornings to wipe himself with a dry towel and warm his body. Scientific studies have confirmed that dry wiping has positive health effects. This is a very simple way to maintain health that anyone can use.
In Japan, exercises that are broadcast on the radio are widespread. This is gymnastics, which is held to the music. Such radio exercises have a long history, and most Japanese children perform them every day at school. In addition, since communities often hold sports or simply get together, most Japanese do this kind of gymnastics. About 80% of nursing homes or charitable institutions for the elderly offer such radio lessons, and we can say that these daily exercises are a great contribution to their health.
In addition, the Japanese are very serious about the issue of reducing salt intake. This problem is even considered at the state level, as in Nagano Prefecture, which, thanks to these measures, was able to increase the life expectancy of the population. In addition, the use of more vegetables is actively popularized.
Regular health care
In Japan, various medical examinations are carried out in schools and in the workplace. Thanks to the idea of a universal healthcare system, anyone can get medical care at an affordable price. In addition, you can get a medical examination for free at schools and most companies.
According to the School Health and Safety Act, every year until June 30, schools must conduct a medical examination of students. Mandatory medical examinations are based on the fact that any disease is easier to cure at an early stage. And such a system is one of the state’s contributions to the health of the Japanese.
Japan's healthcare system is versatile. There is a certain limit. If medical expenses become too large, the patient pays 30% of the bill, and the remaining 70% is paid by the state.
Thus, there are many reasons for the longevity of the Japanese, but they all boil down to the fact that each of them is something everyday, part of the usual way of life. This is not something special that is done only once, but something that is repeated day after day. For example, you can reduce salt intake and exercise at least five minutes a day, or use other methods of health promotion, as a conscious attitude to your health can be formed gradually.