Blue Zones Part 2 Okinawa Japan

• Gallup Healthways does not generally rate communities outside of the U.S.
• However, Okinawan's display many of the health factors that Gallup Healthways rates:
• Emotional Health - Okinawan's are traditionaly happy people who strive to live stress free lives.
• Physical Health - Okinawan's have significantly lower rates of dieseases such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, hormone related cancers, etc...
• Healthy Behaviors - Okinawan's exercise regularly and obtain phisical fitness through daily activities as well. They also eat lots of fruits and vegetables, some fish, and small amounts of meat.
• Basic Access - Okinawan's are generally happy with their enviornmtment, although some reports indicate that the majority would prefer not to have a U.S. military presence on the island. The people have access to affordable fruits and vegatibles and have safe places to work out.

Blue Zones Part 2 Okinawa Japan

Other Interesting Facts About The Okinawan's.

What's So Special About this Okinawa?

Okinawa Japan

How Did The Okinawan's Get So Old?

What Social Factors Drive The Okinawan Age so High?

Where In the World

Is Okinawa Japan?

• Okinawa Japan is reportedly known to contain one of the worlds highest concentrations of centenarians.
• In 2006 the Japan Ministry of Health estimated that Okinawa has a centenarian ratio of 50 per 100,000 people.
• That is roughly 740 centenarians in a 1.3million population.
• 90% of the Okinawan's are reported to be female.
• In the United States there are estimated 80,000 centenarians. However, the U.S. has a ratio of only 10-20 centenarians per 100,000 people.

• One such explanation is genetics. Researchers have been looking for common genes among the centenarians around the world and in Okinawa.
• What they found in 1987 was a high number of Okinawan's have HLA (human leukocyte antigen) genetic polymorphisms.
• This HLA polymorphism grants them lower risk for inflammatory or autoimmune diseases.

http://ourbasic1.blogspot.com/2011/02/mystery-of-okinawa.html

• Okinawans have easy access to seafood including seaweed shellfish and fish.
• It is common for Okinawan's to collect this food themselves = daily exercise.
• It is culturally acceptable for Okinawan's to walk to their destinations = Daily exercise.
• The terrain is not exceedingly flat.
• In Okinawa it is the social norm to meditate and exercise daily.
• The Okinawan culture puts great significance in religion and family ties.
• Traditional food that Okinawan's traditionally eat is very vegetable laden with minimal processing of those vegetables.

http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/4102/PreviewComp/SuperStock_4102-7241.jpg

http://www.okicent.org/study.html

http://www.okicent.org/cent.html

Recap Of The 9 Powers and 6 Health habits.

However, genetic factors only account for ~25% of human longevity. Before continuing here is a brief explanation of the Blue Zone and Gallup Healthways health factors.

The 9 Blue Zone Powers

1. MOVE NATURALLY: Obtain physical activity from your enviornment.

2. PURPOSE: Lead a purpose driven life.

3. DOWN SHIFT: Relax and live stress free.

4. 80% RULE: Eat until your stomach is 80% full.

5. PLANT SLANT: Have the majority of your diet consist of fresh produce.

6. WINE @ 5: Have 1-2 servings of alcohol a day.

7. BELONG: Become a member of a faith based community.

8. LOVED ONES FIRST: Commit to a life long partner and put your family first.

9. RIGHT TRIBE: Create a social circle of like minded healthwise individuals.

The 6 Gallup Healthway Factors

1. LIFE EVALUATION: Rate Your Own Life.

2. EMOTIONAL HEALTH: Enjoyment, Happiness, Sadness, Anger.

3. PHYSICAL HEALTH: Diseases, Obesity, Sleep Patterns.

4. HEALTHY BEHAVIOR: Exercise, Smokeing, Healthy Eating.

5. WORK ENVIORNMENT: Job Satisfaction

6. BASIC ACCESS: Access to Local Healthcare and Fresh Food.

Are There Any Unhealthy Okinawan's That Are Unhealthy?

What Health Factors Help The Okinawan's to Get Old?

How Else Did The Okinawan's Get So Old?

Blue Zones View On Okinawa.

Young Adults:

• Young Okinawan's have lower levels or wellbeing and are generally less healthy.

• In addition Japanese researchers sought to study if there was a familial pattern on aging and death relative to the centenarian family member.
• They studied the mortality advantage of the centenarian's siblings as compared to their age-matched birth cohorts.
• It was shown in 2006 that after the age of 90 centenarian siblings had 50% less mortality than the cohorts.

http://www.bluezones.com/live-longer/education/expeditions/okinawa-japan/

Why Are Young Okinawan's So Unhealthy?

• Globalization.
• As generations continue and globalization increases the young adults are straying farther and farther from their elders traditions.
• One major example is the increase of fast food restaurants on the island.

Gallup Healthways Opinion.

How Can Okinawan's Fix This Health Disparity?

Unfortunately many cultures are and have suffered negatively from globalization. Globalization is an unstoppable force bringing good and bad to all corners of the world. If the Okinawan's want to stop the negative influences brought by globalization they will have to fight an up hill battle. They will have to make it a cultural commitment to not accept things like fast food and to instil traditional ways of life into the children.

http://www.okicent.org/study.html

http://www.well-beingindex.com/methodology.asp

http://www.okicent.org/study.html

Photo: 97 year old karate master Seikichi Uehara

Conclusion

The Okinawan centenarians have a lot they can teach us about health and happiness. Statistical analysis can be used to determine the importance of these teachings. Doctors can explain the physiological benefits of the teachings. Demographers can show you the proof by quantifying centenarian population ratios. But when all is said and done none of this is needed. One just has to look at the videos of the Okinawan's. In the videos it is apparent that the lessons the Okiawan's are teaching us is to enjoy life, be mindful of your life, and to be mindful of the nature in your environment where ever that may be.