Why Japan Lives Longer

hello I'm Sarah FM and I'm a medical doctor extremely passionate about health I'd like to welcome you to a very special episode of the Prevention web series I'm in a country which is well known for its intriguing history efficient transport system authentic Street food and much more but it's also known for one particular fact its population has one of the highest life expectancies in the world in fact women here live longer than anywhere else and I've come to find out why for this episode of the Prevention series I'm in Japan [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] I'm in Japan's capital Tokyo another must say when you first arrive here it's completely overwhelming if mega city is home to around 33 million people in fact the total yokohama area is one of the largest metropolitan zones in the world but it's not as about scales come from private cell in korean one of japan's most cosmopolitan cities with a heaviness of ancient culture nightlife and cutting edge attraction [Music] we all is distinctive custom and incredible cityscape I'm here to investigate what they know at the heart of Japan's impressive longevity in the sound suppliers lifestyle or even helped it or it is simply just a case of the genes Japan has traditionally been one of the healthiest countries in the world on average people in Japan live about five years longer than those in America and Japanese women can expect to live four years longer than women in the UK more than a quarter of the population are elderly citizens that's one of the highest ratios in the world and by 2050 to panel have the highest proportion of centenarians on the planet at just 4% Japan has the lowest levels of obesity in the developed world compare that to the UK at 25 percent and the u.s. at a whopping 32% the Japanese consumers proximally 50 grams of sugar per day in comparison the British typically get through over 100 grams daily Japan is a much lower incidence of breast cancer prostate cancer and heart disease than the UK we've all this evidence it's clear that Japanese are doing something right [Music] back home in the UK I eat my fair share of rice I wouldn't say it's my staple diet but it's definitely on my plate at least three times a week but here in Japan right is literally everywhere you can have rice for lunch rice for breakfast and even rice on the go wife has been at the center of Japan's economy and culture for centuries so does rice help the Japanese to live longer rice is actually a low-fat carbohydrate which basically means you feel full after eating it so there's less room for slacking in between meals particularly for sugary and fatty snacks that are common back in the West in the UK we often substitute rice for foods like chips pies pizza and lasagna which are all high in calories and saturated fats many of us were not for chips wedges or salty french fries rather than a healthier choice of baked potatoes [Music] even our first meal of the day contains more calories than we may realize with large amounts of sugar hided in the breakfast cereals we eat add to this food such as full fat yogurt cheese and fried eggs and we've turned a seemingly innocent meal into a fatty fee [Music] so should we all sort it and write three times a day well not exactly what we should be aiming for is more complex carbs this can occasionally include rice even better if it's ground but also other foods such as whole grain cereals storage whole wheat pasta and quinoa these foods are more filling but are low in calories [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] anyone who's been to Japan knows that it's a land irony and one of the most intriguing is the role vegetables play in Japanese cuisine what exclusively vegetarian meals are uncommon so traditional Japanese diet actually includes a wide variety and many a restaurant meal is incomplete without a serving of seasonal veg the local produce is filled with powerful antioxidants and antioxidants are good because they may reduce cancer call them cells in our bodies for example Pat choy broccoli and cabbage feature regularly at the dinner table and all have a generous amount of vitamins and minerals but it's not only the soil that Japan relies on for its produce they saw some of their most nutritious vegetables from the sea and there's a few things they love more than seaweed it could be that these sea vegetables contribute in a big way to improve in heart health and give an our body that well needed detox whilst it's debatable if it's the latest superfood undeniably it's low in calories high in fiber and packed with essential vitamins and minerals so I've got here with me now some seaweed and at first glance it doesn't a bit like slimy spinach but edible seaweed it's filled antioxidant calcium and even iodine a nutrient almost unique to this vegetable nice [Music] [Applause] printables also feature in a very different kind of Japanese cuisine locally if known as shorty Ryu what we might call temple food then Buddhism was introduced to Japan more than 500 years ago so it's a religion that's deeply rooted in the culture with more than 77 thousand temples across the country the traditional vegan Buddhist diet has permeated many aspects of society I've come to Kamakura Roshi Qian a restaurant research traditional monastery food to try first hand much like Zen Buddhism itself shorty cuisine is kept simple and free of fancy vegetables our seasonal fresh and lightly cooked rice soup and tofu make up the side dishes and everything is served in a very simple elegant manner [Music] [Music] exercise is a crucial part of any healthy lifestyle so to the Japanese exercise more than other nations well yes and no a 2009 study found that when asked less than one-third of Japanese took part in high levels of physical activity but what the study failed to recognize is that most of their physical activity is integrated into their daily routines light morning exercise has been a very common part of Japanese culture in fact the government has been operating its so-called radio routines for decades citizens follow the workouts by a live radio broadcast in schools parks and other open spaces the sessions largely involved dynamic stretches and simple warm-ups and whilst young people have steadily moved away from the tradition it's still very popular amongst older citizens boys and girls are also getting their fair share of exercise surveys have established that 98 percent of all Japanese children for cycle to school this sets up a lifelong habit of working from an early age which continues well into adulthood [Music] when comparing the West you can make some more of the daily commute than public transport in fact is estimated that the average Japanese walks over 7,000 steps per day that's 2,000 more than the average American and a recent UK study found that the average Briton walks for less than 15 minutes during their work day but true things something as simple as walking can have a profound impact upon your health and well-being [Music] Japan is essentially a group of islands which are surrounded by the East China Sea the Sea of Japan and the mighty Pacific so it's no surprise that a large part of Japanese cuisine actually involves fish Japan is one of the largest consumers of fish worldwide and whilst it makes up only 3% of the world's population it could see more than 16 percent of the world's sea food to see japan's obsession with fish up close and personal there's no better place to come than the world-famous Tokyo fish market [Music] [Music] [Applause] I'm not even sure what happened [Music] so it's fish a strong contributor to healthy aging well oily fish is high in omega-3 fatty acids an essential constituent of the cells that make up the human body however our bodies don't actually produce the Liga three we have to consume it in our daily diet omega-3 is widely thought up to reduce the risk of heart disease and is even recommended in some dietary guidelines for those who've had a heart attack but oily fish isn't just good for the heart some researchers think it could play a role in controlling inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and although not yet confirmed it may also help protect against certain cancers when placed side by side a fish based diet tends to be healthier than the common Western diet of meat and processed food red meat contains saturated fat which slowly damaged the arteries and if eaten an exit may result in obesity and heart disease now you don't have to eat oily fish to get your regular dose of omega-3 it can also be found in plant-based foods such as not soya and even green leafy vegetable spinach so it does look like fish is at least part of the reason for Japan's impressive longevity [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] so far I've had a fantastic time in Japan but my experience would not be complete without dipping into what some may regard as the unknown I'm off to take part in one of Japan's most ancient and drawing traditions see onsen onsen are naturally occurring springs filled with water which has been geothermally heated from deep within the Earth's crust and because Japan is situated in a volcanic Lee active region the country has more than 3000 of these hot springs the Japanese have bathed in these pools for hundreds of years so it's no surprise that the certain onsen etiquette has developed over time on cents are considered places of reflection and contemplation and they are generally quiet peaceful and very clean but there's one rule above all that captures the attention of most visitors when you enter the soothing waters of an onsen it is essential that you are absolutely naked fortunately for me onsens are traditionally segregated into male and female sections and private onsen are also available [Music] so two horses actually help lessen your lifespan so Japanese scientists claim that people who cover faster after certain surgeries when readily made in object obviously is the natural minerals in the water itself which help manage conditions such as hypertension neuralgia and skin disease however despite several scientific studies it seems we still yet to find a definitive conclusion about medicinal properties of it what we do know is to tune in water for long periods of time is a great way to relax both your muscles and your mind Bakula UK hydrotherapy is often recommended to improve circulation relieves pain and ease muscle tension [Music] [Applause] [Music] I started this journey wondering what lay at the heart of Japan's impressive longevity what are the role of rice and vegetables in their traditional diets or perhaps the national obsession with fish and relatively low consumption of red meat maybe it has something to do with the smaller portion sizes at mealtimes and then there was the naturally active lifestyle particularly through walking and cycling what's now become clear to me is that it's not just one thing all these factors have played a part in the health of the nation for centuries however things are beginning to change as Japan becomes increasingly westernized we see a growing number of fast food restaurants catering to modern tastebuds and to move away from the traditional and healthier Japanese diet there's been a steady decline in the levels of physical activity to the extent that the government has had to introduce a number of Health Initiative high blood pressure diabetes and other lifestyle related conditions are on the rise there's no doubt that Japan has one of the healthiest Asian populations in the world but it's the sustain it's top rankings in longevity younger generations may have to follow in the footsteps of their elders in order to secure a healthy future [Music] [Music] the better [Music] [Music]

Channel: Health In HD

Views: 556,569

Rating: 4.7706909 out of 5

Keywords: vegan, rawfood, nutrition, japan, japanese live long, antioxidants, mens health, womens health, noodles, rice dish, omega 3, cruciferous, kyoto food, tokyo food, healthy eating, healthy living, how to live long, raw food in japan, disease prevention, wellness, well being, healthy diet, longevity, japanese diet, old age, which countries live the longest, natural remedies, home remedies, obesity, secret to long life, why japanese live long, why japenese women live long, health in hd

Id: HDUo8h29HWM

Length: 23min 1sec (1381 seconds)

Published: Tue Jul 11 2017