Why Do Japanese Have Long Life Expectancy?

With a life expectancy of 81.25 years for men and 87.32 years for women, Japan has the
highest life expectancy in the world. Japanese people are living longer than ever on
average, and they are getting older. Over 71,000 centenarians made up the 2.31 million
Japanese over the age of 90 in 2019. Have the Japanese discovered the elixir of youth? We
look into Japan's best-kept health and longevity secrets.

Their healthy diet. The 5th-century recommendation of Greek physician

Hippocrates is perfectly illustrated by the cuisine of the Japanese people, which is a major
factor in their long life spans. With staples like omega-rich fish, healthy grains, tofu, miso,
seaweed, and veggies, their diet is lean and well-balanced. All of these meals are high in
vitamins and minerals that lower the risk of cancer and heart disease while being low in
sugar and saturated fats. While other nations suffer from the effects of poor diets, Japan
has an incredibly low obesity rate thanks to its nutritious cuisine. Only 4.30 percent of
Japanese people are obese, compared to 27.80 percent and 36.20 percent in the UK and
the US, respectively. It goes without saying that the Japanese live longer thanks to their
nutritious diet because obesity is a key contributor to fatal diseases including diabetes,
cancer, and heart disease. It is supported by science. A research that appeared in BMJ
found that people who followed the diet that the Japanese government advised had a 15%
lower mortality rate than those who didn't. They also begin young. Japanese schools serve
lunches that are rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Their active lifestyles.
Approximately 98% of Japanese students ride their bikes or walk to school, and every
morning across the country, radio stations play rajio taiso, or "gymnastics radio," which is
similar to warm-up callisthenics. The majority of people walk or cycle to the train station,
stand on the train, then walk to work as part of their regular commute. Furthermore,
people do sit down; they just do so in a better manner. For meals or social gatherings,
people frequently kneel on the ground in a position known as "seiza." You lie on your
shins and tuck your feet under your belly in this posture. This keeps your strength and
flexibility in tact. In Japan, even using the restroom involves moving around. Squatting is
the norm in traditional Japanese toilets, which is better for your bowels and overall health.

Japan’s health care system is one of the best in the world. The government has
introduced many preventative measures to care for its citizens, such as health screenings
in schools and workplaces. Along with government initiatives, good health care is part of
Japanese culture. Japanese citizens visit the doctor an average of 13 times a year for
checkups. This means that illnesses are more likely to be caught early. It’s also traditional
for people to care for elderly family members rather than sending them to care homes.
The psychological benefits of living with your family in old age means that people are
happier and live longer. Also their genes. Lastly, The Japanese live with ‘ikigai’. This
ancient philosophy roughly translates as ‘your reason to live’ and encourages people to
live with joy and purpose.