Health and Nutrition Secrets From Around The World

Wake Up World

There are many places around the world where people live longer and know how to be happier than the rest of us. They live time-tested lifestyles that promise to protect us from a wide range of diseases. The key is knowing why they work and how to adopt them yourself.

Researchers have long tried to understand why some regions are much healthier than others. Epidemiological studies have looked at disease rates in conjunction with environmental and eating patterns in order to understand which factors are the most influential. This started in earnest in the 1980s, when researchers began studying the Mediterranean diet and found that it had significant health benefits. Additional researchers began employing a vast amount of data in the quest to determine what these people do that’s unique and how we can adapt their secrets to fit our lives.

Instead of depriving yourself, researchers say it’s better to look at cultures and regions around the world where diets are not just healthy, but also have highly protective qualities against scourges like cancer, depression, diabetes and heart disease.

Health Secrets From Around The World

Eat fresh food; follow traditions like communal eating; get sugar from whole foods like fruits; get salt from natural and unprocessed sources; if you must eat meat and dairy, make sure it comes from animals naturally raised; incorporate fats from whole nuts, seeds and grains; use fermented and pickled foods; and use spices when possible.

Also, populations living by the sea generally report rates of good health more than similar populations living inland. Coastal environments may not only offer better opportunities for its inhabitants to be active, but also provide significant benefits in terms of stress reduction. Access to ‘good’ environments may have a role in reducing inequality in health between the wealthiest and poorest members of society.

While these lifestyle from around the globe offer useful lessons, they must be accompanied by routine and exercise to be effective.

Okinawa, Japan

Japan has relatively low rates of prostate and breast cancer. The Okinawans practice calorie restriction, which has been linked to improved longevity. They also load up on in-season vegetables like bok choy, mustard greens and kale. They drink green tea rich in antioxidants, and get their fats and vitamin D from fish.

Lessons from the Okinawans:

1. Develop a strong sense of purpose, called ikigai, or that which makes life worth living, by keeping family ties strong and maintaining close groups of friends. The Okinawans call these moais.
2. Stay active, and maintain a vegetable garden. Not only do gardens provide natural sources of healthy foods, but also an outlet for daily physical activity. Because of the temperate climate, Okinawans can garden all year round and get plenty of bone-health promoting Vitamin D.
3. Maintain an herb garden. People living in homes or apartments can grow and maintain herb gardens. Include ginger and turmeric to get the same health benefits as the Okinawans.
4. Eat a plant-based diet. Use vegetables from your garden, a farmer’s market or even a grocery store. Okinawan centenarians consume soy products, such as antioxidant rich tofu for additional health benefits.
5. Hara hachi bu. This old agage translates as “eat until you’re 80% full”. The Okinawans say this before every meal to remind them to eat moderate amounts of food.
6. Smile! Okinawan centenarians embrace a positive outlook on life, in spite of or because of the hardships they endured throughout their lives.

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