Japan is known not only for its sushi and electronics but also for having the oldest population in the world with a life expectancy of 83.1 as of 2010.
Old age is a growing problem in the country due to possible shortage of labor force and the increased cost of health care. But it also makes you wonder: how are they able to live that long?
World Health Olympics, a book written by couple William Doyle and Naomi Moriyama, hopes to explain that. Moriyama was born in Japan's capital Tokyo but eventually grew up in one of the rural farms. Now that he already has a child-a boy, 8-she hopes she can pass on the same healthy habits to him.
To write the book, they had to go back to Japan, where the family traveled extensively, looking for answers.
One of the things they found out that many of the age-old traditions in the country are actually the ones that are being advocated by health experts today. These include eating a diet that is heavy on vegetables, especially greens. The meals are also usually low in meat and fat, opting to add them to flavor the soup, not to be the highlight of the meal. Further, the meals are usually water rich, which means the food can satiate them for some time and prevent them from eating a lot in a day.
As an Asian country, the Japanese also love to eat their meals with rice, which is rich in simple carbohydrates. However, unlike other carbs such as pasta or bread, rice has lower calories.
The Japanese also eat food in moderation, and they usually stop eating the moment they feel full. They also normally eat the meals with the family, which contributes to healthier eating habits. Although children are allowed to eat junk food, it's rare to find a home with lots of it simply because spaces in Japan are limited.
Japan also encourages lots of walking, which can already count for moderate exercise, and the habit can begin as early as childhood.
