Japan is a country with an aging population, but its life expectancy is among the highest in the world. According to 2020 data, life expectancy in Japan reached 845 years old, while the average life expectancy in China is 773 years old. This gap makes people wonder, what is the secret of the longevity of the Japanese?
Many people may think that the Japanese live a long life because they like to exercise and maintain good health. But, in fact, the Japanese are not a sporty people. According to a survey by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, in 2019, only 24 percent of Japanese adults exercised more than twice a week8 percent, compared to 33 percent in China9%。This shows that the longevity of Japanese people is not maintained by exercise, but by other good habits that allow them to live longer.
So, what are some of the good habits that Japanese people have that we can learn from? Today, I would like to introduce you to four Japanese longevity habits, hoping to bring you some inspiration and reference.
The Japanese diet is to eat smaller, more frequent meals, five or six meals a day, but they don't eat very much at each meal. They have a well-known dietary principle called ".hara hachi buIt means that it stops eating seven-eighths of the stomach. The advantage of this is that it can avoid excessive calorie intake, reduce the risk of obesity and chronic diseases, and also keep blood sugar and cholesterol stable, preventing diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
The diet of Japanese people is also reasonable, they like to eat fresh vegetables, fruits, seafood, soy products, etc., which are rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which can strengthen immunity, delay aging, and prevent cancer. Japanese people also like to drink green tea, the tea polyphenols and catechins in green tea can inhibit inflammation, scavenge free radicals, and protect cells.
The Japanese are very particular about cleanliness, and they take a bath every day, and instead of simply taking a shower, they soak in hot water to allow their bodies to fully relax and stretch. The Japanese have a traditional way of bathing called ".ofuro", which means washing the body with soap and water before soaking it in hot water. The benefits of this are that it can improve blood circulation, relieve muscle and joint pain, eliminate fatigue, and improve sleep quality.
Japanese people also like to go to hot springs, the minerals in hot springs can have many benefits for the body and the body, such as beauty, anti-aging, disease, neuralgia, rheumatism, etc. The Japanese believe that bathing is not only to cleanse the body, but also to purify the mind, as a way to relax and enjoy.
Although Japanese people are not sportsmen, they are very social, and they like to keep in touch with family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, etc., and share the joys and sorrows of life. They believe that socializing is a stress-relieving method that increases a person's sense of well-being, reduces loneliness, improves self-confidence, and strengthens resilience. The Japanese also have a special form of socialization called ".moaiIt means a group of like-minded people who support each other, help each other, and get through the ups and downs of life together. This way of socializing can make people feel a sense of belonging and security, and increase people's vitality.
In addition to socializing, Japanese people also like to cultivate their hobbies, such as painting, calligraphy, flower arrangement, tea ceremony, gardening, fishing, photography, etc. These hobbies can keep people's minds active, improve creativity, enrich lives, and bring people a sense of fun and satisfaction. The Japanese believe that hobbies are a way of self-expression and self-realization, and an art of living.
Japanese people have a lot of respect for nature, and they like to maintain a harmonious relationship with nature, such as planting bonsai, raising flowers, admiring the moon, cherry blossoms, and autumn leaves. They believe that nature is the best force that can make people feel calm and beautiful, reduce stress and anxiety, and increase people's health and happiness. The Japanese also have a special view of nature called ".shinrin-yokuIt means forest bathing, which is to walk in the forest, breathe in the fresh air, and feel the atmosphere of the forest. This view of nature can relax people, improve immunity, lower blood pressure, and improve mood.
In addition to respecting nature, Japanese people also like to follow their own biological clock, they don't stay up late, they don't sleep lazy, they follow the rhythm of nature, go to bed early and wake up early, and maintain a regular schedule. They believe that following the biological clock can keep people in physical and mental balance, improve the efficiency of work and study, prevent insomnia and depression, and prolong life.
These are the four longevity habits of Japanese people that I have introduced to you, what do you think? These habits seem simple, but they all have a lot of scientific basis and a lot of practical proof. If we can learn from these habits, maybe we can also improve our health and longevity and enjoy a better life.
Of course, everyone's physique and situation are different, and we should not blindly imitate the habits of the Japanese, but choose the way that suits us according to our actual situation, and achieve moderation and balance. We can't ignore the role of medicine, if there is any physical discomfort, we still have to seek medical attention in a timely manner, and we can't just rely on habits to take care of health.
In short, what we need to do is to cherish our lives, care for our bodies, cultivate our minds, and enjoy our lives, so that we can truly live a long life.
So, what do you think about the longevity habits of Japanese people? Do you have your own secret to longevity? Feel free to leave a message in the comment section and share your thoughts and experiences with me. You are also welcome to follow my Baijia account, I will bring you more interesting and valuable articles regularly, let us learn and grow together.
Finally, I would like to give you a word that I hope will give you some inspiration and encouragement:
Life is not about length, but about quality. Don't forget to live well in order to live long. - Romain Rolland, February**Dynamic Incentive Program