Human beings are living longer than ever before, and the Japanese are enjoying the longest life spans of all. Currently, the average life expectancy for Japanese women is 85.81 years, and the average life expectancy for Japanese men is 79 years.

 

But more and more Japanese citizens are reaching – and surpassing – their 100th year. Japan's centenarian population has quadrupled in the last decade. The Japanese Health Ministry and the United Nations predict over 30,000 centenarians by October of 2007, and one million by the year 2050! Tokyo has the largest number of centenarian citizens, but the densest concentration is found in Okinawa, where 54 of every 100,000 citizens are 100 years old or older.

 

How do the Japanese live so long? According to the elders themselves, lifestyle and attitude are the keys to a long life. Tomoji Tanabe, Japan's oldest living man at age 112, insists that his longevity comes from a complete abstinence from alcohol. (Milk is his preferred libation; he drinks it every day.) To the contrary, Kamato Hongo - who lived to be 116 and who was once the world's oldest person - enjoyed drinking rice wine. She believed that refraining from worry was the recipe for a long life.

 

More so than the elders' drinking habits, their diet is thought to play a large role in their increased longevity. The typical Japanese diet consists of healthy fare such as rice, vegetables, and fish. These foods are thought to reduce the incidence of diseases that plague the industrialized nations of the West, such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Eating style is also significant; studies suggest that Japanese centenarians are more likely to eat at a leisurely pace and consume their food in moderation.

 

Activity might be the best life-preserver of all. Experts have found that Japanese centenarians are more likely to remain autonomous if they engage in regular physical and mental exercise. Pursuits like reading, painting, and writing help keep their minds nimble.

Religious faith and family commitments also help to sustain the centenarians' sense of purpose. Many of the elders have outlived their own children, but feel a sense of duty and love toward their surviving grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

 

These elders are no strangers to hard work, and they recommend it to others who wish to live long lives. Statistically, over 42% of the centenarians had worked as farmers or foresters during their lifetimes, even though agricultural jobs are held by only 6% of the general workforce in Japan.

 

The Japanese centenarians overwhelmingly subscribe to a carefree attitude. They take life as it comes, and advise others to do the same. This philosophy might get put to the test, and soon; the exploding elderly population is expected to put an enormous strain on Japan's public pension system. Elder care is also a concern. As the fastest-growing segment of the Japanese population, many centenarians have limited care options. Those who can care for themselves do. Others turn to family; it’s traditional for the eldest child to live with and care for their aging parents, though this tradition has diminished in recent years.

 

The Japanese government encourages in-home nursing and co-habitation for elders who need constant care, and autonomy for those who can manage it. Privatization of elder care is another option for easing Japan’s financial burden. Daycare centers and facilities for short-term stays are increasing in number, and more health care workers are being recruited in order to meet the needs of the aging population.

 

How do the centenarians feel about their country’s problematic future? True to form, they’re not too worried. As Tomoji Tanabe said on his 112^th birthday, “I want to live forever.”

 

 

The Fight Against Aging: What We Could All Learn From The Italians

 

The Italian people are looked upon as some of the most beautiful, or indeed handsome for the males, people in the world. Their gloriously shiny dark locks are envied, their clear complexions sought after, and their line-free faces the quest of many all around the world. Let’s face facts though; the Italian people are not genetically lucky as such. Their complexions, healthy glow and general happiness can be attributed to certain elements of their lifestyle, the very elements that are missing from the majority of people living elsewhere. There is no miracle, just a few sensible guidelines that we can all follow by taking a; leaf out of the Italians’ book.

 

First of all, healthy eating is a major element of the Italian lifestyle. So you get various pasta dishes with rich creamy sauces, but that does not detract from the fact that their main diet consists of fresh food such as fish, vegetables, ripe juicy fruits, olive oil and cheese. Whilst the latter two may be riddled with fat, olive oil contains so called good fats that the body needs to thrive and cheese is a good source of protein as long as it is eaten in moderation. In short, all of the above provide a great balance of all of the vitamins and minerals that the body needs to thrive. The good complexion owes a lot to that.

 

In terms of aging, the diet Italians eat can stave off the aging process because the nutrients that it provides keeps the skin supple, thus removing the possibility of getting wrinkles, and the natural ingredients mean that very few pollutants and chemicals get into their systems. Those chemical and pollutants tend to attack cells inside the body and can cause degradation and damage. This in turn would cause aging when our outer appearances begin to reflect the inner attack that our body is under.

 

The sun also contributes to aging if you read all of the beauty magazines on the shelves now but Italians tend to protect their skin more diligently than we do because it is so much stronger there than at home. They also tend to spend less time in direct sunlight and hydrate religiously. As a result, their skin receives the benefit of the sun without suffering the lasting effects.

 

The relaxed way of life is another aspect of Italian life that we could all learn a little from. The Italians are so laid back and take life in their stride. Most tend to take the attitude that whatever happens to them happens and they will deal with it as it comes. The elevated pace of life that many Western countries experience has no place in Italy and the majority do not feel the stresses and strains of daily life as a result.

 

You may well ask how does this stave off the effects of aging? Well, the facial features tend to age more quickly if an individual has had a more stressful life. Laughter lines and wrinkles will emerge unconsciously if we are stressed because our features tend to mirror the way we feel inside. If an individual rarely experiences stress then he or she is likely to age far less quickly than someone who feels the pressure and stress present in most Western working and living environments today.

 

Also, if an individual does not feel stressed then he or she is more likely to sleep well than someone that does. Eight hours of sleep a night gives the body time to recharge its batteries and can help slow the aging process. If you are not getting your requisite eights hours of sleep a night then you will begin to age, usually beginning with the area under your eyes that tends to become puffy as it retains fluid.

 

In short, we can learn a lot from the Italians. The way of life is much slower, the food much more healthy and the attitude in general far better than those living in the US, UK and other similar areas. Whilst this does improve general health dramatically, it can also help to slow down or even halt the aging process with no need for the expensive creams in store that may or may not work, regardless of how expensive they are. Instead of taking your chances with lotions and potions that profess to perform miracles, why not do something good for your body and take a leaf out of the Italians’ book?