If You Want To Live Longer Eat Like the Japanese

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SUSHIDon’t hesitate to indulge your sushi habit: A new study finds a Japanese diet of fish, rice, seaweed, and sake could add years to your life. Not only does following Japan’s dietary guidelines—which highlight grains, vegetables, fish and meats, milk, and fruits—result in a 15% lower total mortality rate, but it also lowers one’s risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and stroke, according to the study in the British Medical Journal.

“Our findings suggest that balanced consumption of energy, grains, vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, eggs, soy products, dairy products, confectionaries, and alcoholic beverages can contribute to longevity by decreasing the risk of death, predominantly from cardiovascular disease, in the Japanese population,”

Researchers surveyed 79,544 people aged 45 to 75 in Japan—where the average life expectancy is 87 for women and 80 for men—about their health and food habits when the study began, then again five and 10 years later.

RELATED: STUDY: SLIGHTLY OVERWEIGHT PEOPLE LIVE LONGER

They then compared eating habits to Japan’s dietary guidelines and gave each participant a score based on how closely they followed them. Those who received high scores—meaning they generally adhered to the guidelines—were more likely to be women, drink green tea, and eat more calories, reports Time.

They were also 15% less likely to die from all causes and 22% less likely to die from stroke, perLive Science. Though researchers say a diet low in fat and high in fish and soybean products is beneficial, the participants who ate a lot of fruit and veggies, supplemented by fish and meats, profited the most.

About Post Author

Caroline Taylor

Ms. Taylor has an MA in English from a prestigious university. She enjoys writing and has been a long time fan of MMA.
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Glenn R. Geist
8 years ago

Eat, drink and be merry, only a bit less of the first two, I think.

Of course looking at the WHO figures it seems that countries like Spain are about statistically identical with Japan and all sorts of countries with all sorts of diets are way ahead of us. (we’re number 40) I hate to bring up that old “fallacy of the single source” thing, but the US is extremely diverse in terms of lifestyle and diet while Japan is not, nor are many of the countries of old men. There are other factors. Genes play a very strong roll in longevity, for one thing.

But I do wish there were some good Japanese restaurants near me. I can eat fish three times a day.

Marsha Woerner
8 years ago

Now, if only I could stand sushi! And the sashimi part is the worst. But on the other hand, the “mind” diet is supposed to reduce Alzheimer’s; it’s a combination of Mediterranean and “MASH?”. It’s very similar to the Okinawan diet. It emphasizes green leafy vegetables and fish, such as salmon. I’m more than happy to go with that! I love SALMON (but not canned, fresh). The other thing are whole grains, nuts, and legumes. And BERRIES!
Actually, I think that I will try mostly to be healthy with my eating, but maybe I will eat more fish and berries and snack on nuts more. They’re definitely better for me than M&M’s 🙂 .

jess
8 years ago

California rolls for the win. Minus the meat, I just do a vegan one with cucumber, carrots, some tofu and avocado. Yep, it is that good when you have the rice rolled up in sesame seeds.

8 years ago

Well I’m covered. I eat sushi like three times a week and veggies the rest. No meat.

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