Okinawan food culture

Since 2001, over 90,000 cyclist's have joined Cycling Forums to discuss topics from general cycling to equipment, training, racing and travel or vacation destinations (especially in europe during the tour de france). We also feature an great deals in our online store, 100's of articles, classifieds and product reviews.

Okinawans losing secret to long life
http://www.itechnology.co.za/index.php?click_id=31&art_id=qw1057026241418B241&set_id=1 July 01 2003
at 04:24AM

By Linda Sieg

Naha, Okinawa - Toshi Uechi is 92 and still dancing. Her grandchildren may not be so lucky.

"I've been dancing almost since I was born," said a sprightly Uechi after practicing traditional
Okinawan dance with about 30 other men and women - most in their eighties - at a senior centre in
the capital of Japan's southernmost prefecture.

A weaver in her youth and now retired from the noodle shop her family ran after World War 2, Uechi
avoids snacks and eats daily servings of "goya", a vegetable resembling zucchini with warts, whose
most outstanding feature is its bitter flavour."

Related SOURCEs: Suzuki M, Wilcox BJ, Wilcox CD. Implications from and for food cultures for
cardiovascular disease: longevity. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=Pu-
bMed&list_uids=11710359&dopt=Abstract Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2001;10(2):165-71. Review. PMID:
11710359 ABSTRACT: "This [healthy lifestyle] has consisted of a plant-based diet, low in salt and
fat, with monounsaturates as the principal fat. Other healthy lifestyle factors include regular
physical activity (farming and traditional dance) and minimal tobacco use. The associated negative
risk factors are low homocysteine, healthy cholesterol profile (Total:HDL ratio less than 3.5) and
reasonable blood pressures throughout the life cycle."

Sho H. History and characteristics of Okinawan longevity food. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q-
uery.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11710358&dopt=Abstract Asia Pac J Clin Nutr.
2001;10(2):159-64. PMID: 11710358 ABSTRACT: "Okinawan food culture in the Ryukyu island is one of
the world's most interesting culture because its consumers have the longest life expectancies and
low disability rates. It is a product of cultural synthesis, with a core of Chinese food culture,
inputs through food trade with South-East Asia and the Pacific and strong Japanese influences in
eating style and presentation. The Satsamu sweet potato provides the largest part of the energy
intake" Akisaka M, Tanaka Y, Suzuki M. Longitudinal and comprehensive follow-up study of the oldest
man in Japan] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=921268-
7&dopt=Abstract Nippon Ronen Igakkai Zasshi. 1997 Apr;34(4):312-23. Japanese. PMID: 9212687
ABSTRACT: "The man did agricultural work until age 85, after which he continued to be physically
active and to pay close attention to his health. ... Close attention to diet and exercise from youth
through senescence may also contribute to health and longevity."

Mimura G, Murakami K, Gushiken M. Nutritional factors for longevity in Okinawa--present and future.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1407825&dopt=Abstract
Nutr Health. 1992;8(2-3):159-63. PMID: 1407825 ABSTRACT: "Okinawa prefecture is well known as the
leading area for longevity in the world. ... Their leading occupation was agriculture, and they were
in work until the 8th decade. They took rice or potato as carbohydrate with abundant vegetables and
vegetable protein or fish protein."

------------------------
This Article Concluded:

"That sort of active lifestyle and spartan diet have helped make Okinawa home to one of the highest
percentages of centenarians in the world - 39,5 per 100 000 residents. ... Okinawans have long
eaten more pork than mainland Japanese, but a tradition of stewing it for hours - skin, bones and
all - means the meat loses its unhealthy fat content. ... Elderly islanders are also accustomed to
plenty of exercise. ... Prefectural health officials got a shock when data showed that longevity
for Okinawan men had fallen to 26th among Japan's 47 prefectures in 2000 from fourth in 1995 and
first in 1985."

------------------------
Comment:

Longevity diets always center around dates where a particular locality has been documented to have
the longest longevity on the planet. For the Okinawan diet the key year appears to be 1985. For the
Cretan Mediterranean Diet it was the 1960's. So, rather than waste time portraying the Okinawan diet
as a fad that time has proven not to work the idea is to study the actual diet during the correct
time period.

In addition, while the popular press likes to portray it as the Okinawan diet and the Cretan
Mediterranean Diet it always has been about total lifestyle. And, that means the dirty word exercise
/ activity levels among other things.

The prominent psychosocial factor in the Okinawan culture was their strong social support system of
strong family values.

Interestingly the Okinawan food culture had a stronger Chinese than Japanese food influence, with
monounsaturates as the principal fat.
--
John Gohde, Achieving good Health is an Art, NOT a Science!

Health-with-Attitude is a support group for people trying to follow a Healthy Lifestyle.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Health-with-Attitude/