The inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun have the highest life expectancy among the entire population of the planet. Women in Japan live on average to 86 and men to 79, which is higher than in any other developed country in the world. Many tourists visiting this country note that the Japanese look very young, slim and energetic. Even the elderly lead an active lifestyle, ride bicycles, play sports and look younger than their age.

It is worth mentioning, however, that the Japanese are mostly terrible workaholics. They work practically seven days a week, and the statutory length of annual leave is 18 days, although on average this figure does not exceed 8 days. The Japanese smoke a lot and drink alcohol regularly. And the terrible nuclear disasters suffered by the country, Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, as well as Fukushima in 2011, do not contribute to a healthy and long life.

All this makes scientists around the world look for a clue to this island phenomenon. And so numerous researchers of Japanese longevity presented their findings to the public. It turns out that it's all about the lifestyle of the Japanese.

First of all these are the nutritional features. The culture of eating in Japan is very similar to the list of recommendations from a book on good nutrition. They drink a lot of water and green tea, eat in small portions and try to consume only fresh food that has not been stored or preserved for a long time.

The diet of the Japanese contains a large amount of fish, fresh fish, which is important. Each inhabitant of the Land of the Rising Sun eats an average of 68 kilograms of fish per year, which is 4 times higher than in other countries. It is an excellent source of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, selenium and iodine, which contribute to the healthy functioning of the cardiovascular system and the whole body in general. At the same time, the Japanese consume meat (beef, poultry) 2-3 times less than the inhabitants of Europe or America.

Second feature Japanese food is the consumption of large quantities of fresh vegetables and fruits, as well as seaweed, with minimal heat treatment. These foods are very rich in vitamins and minerals and are virtually devoid of calories. In addition, they almost never eat bread and instead eat rice.

In addition to proper, fresh and vitamin-rich food, the Japanese are also distinguished by the fact that they eat less than Europeans. This applies not only to the size of the portions, but also to the amount of sweets. For example, a Japanese cake is three times smaller than a Russian one. And of course, green tea is worth mentioning. The Japanese drink a lot of green tea, which is beneficial for health and strengthens the immune system. In some cases, they not only drink it, but also eat the leaves. They also drink a lot of water, not only when they are thirsty, but simply during the day. The island nation is also a consumer of a large number of nutritional supplements and vitamin complexes designed to promote health and prolong life.

The second important component the Japanese way of life is high mobility. They travel a lot on foot and by bicycle, and less by car than Europeans. The Japanese, and even older Japanese people, love to play croquet golf. Long-livers who participated in the research advise walking at least 10,000 steps a day, which is about 6 kilometers.

The third important component Japanese life, noted by researchers, is their attitude to the surrounding nature and inner calmness. The Japanese live in harmony with their nature, and the famous Japanese gardens and bonsai are not relics of the past or a tribute to tradition. Most of the Japanese of the older generation necessarily have a favorite tree in their garden in the yard or on the windowsill, which they take care of and to which they devote a lot of time. Their entire existence is saturated with care for nature, because more than 125 million people live on a small territory, and in order to preserve their country for future generations, they do a lot to protect nature.

Japan is a country of centenarians. Many Japanese are living to a venerable age - life expectancy in Japan, both men and women, is the highest in the world. In this country, there are more than 36 thousand centenarians. The average life expectancy of the Japanese is 82 years, they can only be envied. At the same time, the grandparents of the most advanced age feel great and lead a completely active lifestyle. These people continue to go in for sports, travel and generally take an interest in the diversity of life, they even "do not know how to get sick." The percentage of heart attacks, strokes, prostate and breast cancer is the lowest on the planet.

Why do Japanese people live long? How do they do it?

1. Fish, vegetables, fruits, rice and soy - the basis of a complete diet

The Japanese are obsessed with fish. It is eaten for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is put on rice balls, inside rice balls, eaten raw, smoked, baked, fried, stewed with seasonings and just like that. Still, there are over 3,000 species of fish living off the coast of Japan, and all of them can be deliciously cooked. Each Japanese eats an average of 68 kg of fish per year, a resident of other countries - 3-4 times less. Salmon is the undoubted favorite of Japanese cuisine, but trout, mackerel, sardines, tuna, shrimp, octopus, eel, scallop crabs and other fish are also used.
Thanks to such a seafood diet, the body receives an abundance of proteins, minerals, iodine, selenium and, most importantly, omega-3 fatty acids. It is omega-3 that is responsible for the health of the heart and blood vessels. By eating a little fish every day or taking fish oil capsules, anyone can get closer to Japanese longevity.

Japanese cuisine is low in calories and contains almost no animal fats that are harmful to the body. Brown rice and vegetables are great sources of fiber.

The inhabitants of the land of the rising sun also adore vegetables. Especially popular are the steamed, rapeseed oil stewed mixtures consisting of red peppers, green peas, zucchini, eggplant, white onions, negi, cilantro and, of course, rice. Don't forget about shiitake mushrooms. Finely chopped, they are a great addition to clear soup. More vegetables, delicious and different.
The Japanese know how to cook and serve almost any plant. Daikon, bamboo shoots, lotus roots and more prosaic eggplants, lettuce, broccoli are transformed in the hands of Japanese chefs and become real delicacies. No wonder Japanese kids don't need to be forced to eat vegetables - it's so delicious!

Fruit is also loved in Japan, although most of the fruit comes from the mainland and is expensive. They are eaten only fresh, and not only as a dessert, but also in salads. Apples, peaches, persimmons, grapes, bananas, apricots and citruses - the choice is great.

Fruits and vegetables are excellent at reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, in addition, fruits and vegetables help not to gain extra pounds.

A story about Japanese cuisine would be incomplete without soy. It is unthinkable for a Japanese to go through a day and not eat a dish made from low-calorie, lean, protein-rich soybeans. It is mainly eaten in the form of miso soup, tofu chunks, soy sauce, or fermented natto beans.
Experts believe that the high consumption of soy products in Japan is the reason for the health and longevity of the Japanese nation. And again, mind you, a minimum of calories, amino acids and proteins. Soy successfully replaces animal protein, and even surpasses it in terms of unsaturated fats. The abundance of soy products is another factor in the health of the Japanese, according to doctors.

2. Miniature portions and eating ritual

The Japanese portion is one third smaller than the western portion. We prefer to gorge ourselves "with a reserve", and the Japanese prefers to leave the table feeling a little hungry. The Japanese meal is leisurely. Chewing food thoroughly, the Japanese strive to taste every bite. Japanese housewives are real craftswomen, they always try to make the dish not only tasty, but also as beautiful and intricate as possible. Food needs to be admired.
Hashi (chopsticks) makes food even more meditative. It is impossible to grab a large piece with them - and the body is quickly saturated.

3. Nothing more

The philosophy of Japanese cuisine is to preserve the original appearance of any product as much as possible. It is important to preserve nutrients in dishes, therefore the Japanese prefer gentle types of heat treatment, almost do not use hot seasonings and complex sauces. Instead of heavy oils, butter and vegetable oils, rapeseed oil or dashi (fish and seaweed broth) is used for frying and dressing.

4. Less bread means more rice

What do the Japanese eat all the time? That's right, fig. Moreover, both as a side dish, and separately or for a snack. Young Japanese people who are curious about Western culture sometimes eat bread, but usually homemade bread. And conservative elders don't accept him at all. And the body only benefits from this, because rice is a universal source of complex carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins.

5. Breakfast - energy for the whole day

The Japanese are not satiated with fast carbohydrates in the morning, as we are. Sweet cereals, buns, pancakes, scrambled eggs give a quick burst of energy and by lunchtime they leave only hunger and frustration.

Breakfast in Japan is more basic: rice, miso soup with onions and tofu, a slice of salmon and always green tea. With such a breakfast, the feeling of satiety will not go away until the evening.

6. Shared dessert with a friend

The Japanese also love sweets, only they eat them in very small portions, 2-3 times less than ours. Besides, many Japanese desserts are healthier than ours. They are based on seaweed marmalade and do without cream or high-calorie creams.

7. More traffic!

Despite the sedentary work, the Japanese try to move more: walk even long distances, use stairs rather than elevators, and bicycles instead of cars.

In the 1960s, researcher Yoshiro Hatano developed the extremely popular 10,000-step theory in Japan. According to this theory, a person who walks 10 thousand steps (8 kilometers) a day lives longer, stays slim, and does not suffer from pressure problems.

8. Tea ceremony

Japan is the country of tea. Green tea is the symbol of Japan. And the tea ceremony is a process that has been improved for five hundred years. Green tea is drunk here around the clock. At meals, before going to bed, in the morning for tone, just in the middle of the day. Green tea is a miracle cure for any ailment, the Japanese believe. Green tea is served free of charge in restaurants.

Also popular are black tea and cold barley tea, indispensable in summer.

Here is an explanation of why the Japanese live long, here is the whole secret of Japanese longevity! If you follow these rules, you can not only improve your health, but also probably live longer.

For centuries, Japan was a rather closed country, which opened to the outside world only at the end of the 19th century. Today it is one of the leading economically developed and scientifically advanced countries in the world, whose inhabitants live up to 82 years on average. This country has the largest number of people who celebrated their centenary. It should be noted that all Japanese centenarians are healthy, active and cheerful.

Scientists who have been studying the phenomenon of longevity of the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun since the second half of the 20th century argue that the secret lies in the combination of several conditions:

Food culture

The diet of the inhabitants of the Japanese Isles is quite balanced, nutritious and low in calories. The basis of the Japanese diet is, of course, rice... This product is a real storehouse of vitamins and minerals. Rice has a beneficial effect on digestion and helps control weight. Japanese rice is short-grain and very sticky. That is why it is quite convenient for the Japanese to eat it with chopsticks. Rice is cooked without salt and oil, pre-soaking for a short time. Rice is eaten in Japan almost all the time, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Moreover, they even have a snack between meals with rice, and instead of the usual bread for us, they eat rice. Japanese beauties even use the water in which the rice was cooked. It is considered to be an excellent caring cosmetic that makes the skin of Japanese women so radiant and youthful.

The second most important component of Japanese cuisine is Fish and seafood... Japan is a maritime power, so eating different types of aquatic life and seaweed is completely natural. Fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for maintaining youth and beauty, iodine and phosphorus, which have a beneficial effect on the thyroid gland and nervous system. Vitamins A, B and D also nourish and heal all body systems, skin and hair. Salmon, trout, pink salmon, chum salmon, tuna, perch and mackerel are very popular in Japan. The fish is boiled, grilled and steamed, marinated, smoked and canned. Salmon caviar is eaten here much more often than in other countries. It is put in various dishes or simply as an addition to a plate of rice.

Seafood also contains many vitamins, omega-3 acids and various trace elements. Scallops, shrimps, octopuses and squids are grilled and batter, fried, or even eaten raw. Algae are rich in iodine, minerals and fiber. The most popular are nori, sea grapes, lamirania and kombu. They are added to salads and soups, used as a side dish. The inhabitants of Japan claim that it is in the daily use of these sea plants that the secret of their youth and health lies.

The Japanese also consume large amounts of soy products: milk, sauce and cottage cheese (tofu). Soy contains protein, a kind of building material for our muscles. Unsaturated fatty acids in its composition moisturize the skin and even smooth fine wrinkles. Tofu is eaten raw in soups and salads, as well as fried and baked. And soy cheese makes great desserts!

Japanese cuisine has recently been supplemented with recipes for cooking meat dishes. The fact is that up to the end of the 19th century. to eat meat in Japan it was legally prohibited. According to the main religion in this area - Buddhism - killing an animal is an unacceptable evil. This prohibition did not apply only to the southern part of the Japanese Islands, on which until the same 19th century. there was an independent state of Ryukyu with developed animal husbandry. But even now, the Japanese eat meat in very limited quantities, no more than twice a week. They mainly prefer lean meat: chicken and marbled beef. Usually meat with vegetables is stewed and steamed, so the products retain all their useful substances and properties.

From vegetables and fruits the Japanese table always contains salad, radish, cabbage, leeks, apples, tangerines, peaches, grapes, persimmons and melons. The Japanese also eat exotic bamboo shoots and lotus roots. Bamboo contains a large amount of silicic acid, which our hair, skin and bones need. Bamboo shoots are added to salads made from meat and vegetables or cooked with meat and rice flour. The lotus is a sacred plant for the Japanese, and its root is considered a delicacy. They fry it, stew it and marinate it. However, an improperly harvested or prepared lotus can be poisonous and cause nausea and dizziness.

Sweets Although the Japanese love it, they rarely eat it. Desserts in this country are low in calories and savory. The Japanese prefer chocolate and moichi, a local ice cream made with rice.

Japan has a very developed culture tea drinking... We especially love green tea in this country. It is drunk during meals, at breaks and at night to relax and fall asleep. In restaurants in Japan, green tea is served absolutely free. This drink actively fights aging and obesity, because contains antioxidants and non-calorie.

In food, the inhabitants of Japan adhere to several rules:

  • you need to get up from the table slightly hungry;
  • you should eat a little, but often;
  • food should bring aesthetic pleasure, so it is advisable to serve dishes in beautiful dishes and decorate them;
  • if possible, you should limit the use of salt;
  • food should be varied both in the types of products and in the methods of their preparation;
  • breakfast should be the most plentiful and nutritious meal, because its task is to saturate the body for a long time and energize it for the whole day.

Physical and mental activity

Japanese more mobile in comparison with representatives of many other nations. They exercise, ride bicycles and take long walks. In general, walking is not an idle entertainment for them, but a daily habit, even a necessity. If possible, they try to climb stairs rather than use elevators. Often in the mornings in Japanese parks you can meet elderly people doing morning exercises. All centenarians in this country are very active, they are able to independently serve themselves and their home. Many of them play golf and love dancing.

Even after retirement, the Japanese follow a certain regime of the day: get up early and go to bed by 11 pm. Sleep also has beneficial effects on physical and mental health. The first signs of static diseases appear rather late in Japanese centenarians.

Educational institutions are happy to accept study older people, so if someone did not have time to get the desired higher education or take specialized courses in due time, he can catch up in retirement when there is more free time. Japanese retirees do not sit at home in front of TV screens and do not follow the life twists and turns of fictional characters in television series. They are very socially active. There are many volunteer organizations for the elderly in this country. They are involved in the preparation of various local cultural events, landscaping parks and streets, conduct excursions for foreigners and participate in the self-government of Japanese cities. Many of them organize peculiar hobby groups and hold meetings where they communicate with like-minded people. They can be fans of folk music, singing or chess.

Age-related attitudes and behavior

The Japanese do not associate retirement with the loss of something meaningful, with a time of rest and forgetfulness. For them, with the advent of retirement age, a second life begins and, if before that they worked for the benefit of their children and family, now they will give their strength and knowledge to society. The Japanese do not pursue youth and do not flee from old age, they always wisely accept their age. They do not complain about age, but live with it. Old age is not a reason to relax and become a burden. On the contrary, this is a great opportunity to participate in public life and various organizations, as well as to devote yourself ikigai... Its purpose, purpose in life, which gives it meaning and taste - this is what ikigai is. Every Japanese person knows what his igikai is and follows it. Someone sees their purpose in caring for grandchildren, someone in mentoring, someone in caring for their own garden. Simply put, ikigai is the reason a person wakes up every morning, and everyone should have one.

Even centenarians from the Japanese islands have developed the principle of mutual assistance. At first, it was just financial assistance to a needy neighbor, because a joint is much easier to overcome financial difficulties. Now meetings for a common goal - moai- are part of the inclusion of older people in social life. The purpose of such meetings is emotional support in difficult times and companionship.

In this country, people are calmer about the events taking place. They do not dwell on their past, realizing that it cannot be changed. They find joy in today, make plans for the future. Moreover, pensioners also plan a lot. Japanese centenarians are unhurried, welcoming and teach young people not to keep evil in themselves and to look to the future with optimism. They pass on their love for children and grandchildren to the new generation, showing the value of strong family ties and friendship.

Medical care and hygiene

Without a doubt level of medicine in Japan is extremely high. Highly qualified doctors and the latest medical equipment are available to the Japanese. However, this is a rarely ailing nation. Thanks to their active lifestyle and moderate diet, even people approaching a century are healthy. In Japan, the incidence of diseases of the heart and blood vessels, stomach and intestines is low. Here, only three people out of a hundred are overweight. The Japanese often visit clinics, but mostly only for preventive examinations. Self-medication is not practiced here, and the advice of doctors is strictly followed.

The Japanese are terrible neat, in a good way. Cleanliness of hands, teeth, body and clothes is a mandatory requirement for everyone in the country. So they successfully fight the spread of various infections and show respect for themselves and others. Before Europeans, the inhabitants of Japan began to use toilet paper, disposable tissue paper and take a bath. They did not eat with their hands and generally served their food thoroughly. To this day, Japanese restaurants serve up a wet towel to take care of their customers.

Of course, one can speculate for a long time about the influence of genes, climate and living standards in Japan on the age of its inhabitants. However, if we talk about differences at the genetic level, then Europeans differ from Japanese only in genes responsible for Galanin. This hormone is needed to control appetite, and its activity is reduced in Japanese people. Therefore, they drink less alcohol and poorly digest excessively fatty high-calorie foods, so beloved by the inhabitants of Europe. Scientists tend to explain this by the milder climate of the Japanese islands. After all, winters are not so cold here, and there is no need to warm up with strong drinks and have a small fat reserve. The influence of the climate is most likely also not significant, because there are many long-livers in northern countries, for example, in Iceland, Norway and Sweden. As for the economy, Greece, Cuba and Iceland, in which the average age of residents is also quite high, are not included in the TOP-20 strongest economies in the world. And Japan is in third place on this list. So, most likely, the Japanese are right, believing that for a long and happy life you need to eat right, move more, take care of your health and hygiene and live in harmony with yourself and the world around you.

Why do Japanese people live long?

This question is asked by many, but there is hardly a ready-made answer-recipe for it, because how many people, so many opinions.

The bourgeoisie die in their bed

To begin with, let's deal with the "bare facts". The most important of them is this: life expectancy in modern Japan (according to various sources) is about 84 years for women and 81 years for men. These are averages and will vary depending on the circumstances. It is known, for example, that life expectancy in Okinawa is much longer and is approaching 90 years.

What is the reason for this?
If we turn to Japanese history, we will be surprised to learn that 50 years ago, life expectancy in this country was much less - 48-50 years on average. Consequently, the Great Leap Forward has taken place over the past 50 years. In this case, it is obvious that this is primarily due to economic factors. What does it mean?

The solution of economic problems entails the solution of social and everyday problems, inevitably affects the way of life, at its level - the quality of life.
It is not even worth expanding about this much, since in our minds the modern I

The concept is associated with successes in the economic sphere, reflected in specific, understandable to all examples: TVs, refrigerators, microwave ovens - all these goods, which make life easier and prolonged, in the mass consciousness are associated with Japan. There they are an integral part of the way of life of the middle class, that is, almost everyone.

Quite recently, the term "middle class" was considered almost anti-Soviet in our country. As long as the working class, the working peasantry and the intelligentsia existed for us, this very middle class in Japan grew, grew stronger and lived longer and longer. In a good sense of the word, the middle class is the bourgeoisie.
And the bourgeoisie, as you know, live a long time and die in their bed, and not at the bench and not on the street. This is an established way of life, thinking, nutrition, a stable income, and so on. As a result, they live well and long, while we live badly, but quickly.

And there is trout in Tamagawa

So, the high rates of economic development have led to an increase in the standard of living. But this is just one factor that affects its duration. Any economic growth leads to the problem of environmental pollution.
Any plant, along with the production of the necessary products, also gives out that with which humanity has to fight - garbage, industrial waste, polluted sewage and other things that reduce this very life expectancy. So, in Japan, the fruits of an attentive, I would even say, reverent attitude to the environment are being reaped right now. There, too, not everything was smooth.

In the 60s, and in the 70s, there were serious environmental problems in Tokyo. But they immediately tried to solve these problems and ... everything changed.

Today in Tokyo you can stand on the side of the road, at the crossroads and, breathing in the relatively clean air, remember the Moscow gas pollution, dirt and soot. In Japan, it is easier to breathe, there is less headache, and in Tokyo rivulets they fish. Not mutants, as in the Moscow River, but real fish.
In Tamagawa, which separates Tokyo from the largest industrial suburb - Kawasaki, trout is caught, for example. You can eat it. I caught, ate, and today I am alive and well and I look pretty good. There is fish caught in the Moscow River, I would not risk it.

A lot can be said about this, but ecology is not the only factor influencing the growth of life expectancy.

Holy spring

The purity of the water is another important condition, the observance of which increases the life expectancy of the Japanese. We are only now coming to the understanding that you need to drink only clean water and cook only on it. Several years ago we started a boom in all kinds of filters for water purification, and I personally can only welcome this.

Perhaps, over time, we will reach the level of Japan, where such filters are installed at waterworks. As a result, tap water in Japan can be drunk with complete peace of mind - it is absolutely pure. I don’t know if there are other countries like that? Moreover, in provincial cities the water is even cleaner than in Tokyo, because it is water from mountain springs and it is ... delicious.

Several years ago I noticed that the Japanese coming to Moscow were bringing bottles of mineral water with them. I was surprised and asked - why? After all, we have already appeared not only domestic, but also well-known Western brands. The same Evian, for example. The Japanese replied, "Japanese tastes better."
At first I thought that this was the usual Japanese posturing and insular conservatism, but then I tried it and realized that they were right. I’m not a nutritional institute and didn’t do a chemical analysis, but as a man in the street I can state that Japanese water is not only cleaner, but also tastier. Moreover, Japan is a guarantee of quality.

If they say that this is water from such and such a source, then it is from him..

In the meantime, we do not have such water, we must use filters. Clean water, in my opinion, is a guarantee of health. As you know, the human body consists of 80 percent water and only 20 percent of VAT, which means that the water we drink must be taken care of, and it will take care of us.

Another plate?

Another important factor is nutrition. I have already talked about Japanese cuisine once, and since then my opinion has not changed. Japanese cuisine is a typical example of a separate, healthy diet. The order of serving dishes, their quantity and assortment is a certain philosophy developed over the centuries.

In the Japanese, information about proper nutrition is transmitted from generation to generation at the gene level.
It is about correct, and not about some kind of diet or restraint in food intake.
No one dares to say that the Japanese eat little - they eat a lot, even a lot! Moreover, they eat especially a lot at dinner! And how much beer they drink! But where have you seen the Japanese with beer bellies? Where have you seen fat Japanese people? Only in sumo, but wrestlers on the contrary - put on a special "diet" so that they get fat!

Yes, we have a completely different lifestyle, we eat a lot of fatty, salty and spicy foods. But the Japanese also eat a lot of meat, fat and are very fond of pork. Take buta-shoga-yaki - these are just lumps of lard cooked in a special sauce - such powerful cholesterol sticks.
The Japanese are happy to consume them with beer, quite pleased with themselves. This means that we are dealing with a skillful combination of proper nutrition and clean water. This means that certain dishes of the Japanese diet absorb the harmful effects of other dishes, neutralizing their negative impact on the human body. This is separate meals - this is the Japanese diet.

Japan has both European and American cuisines. There are McDonald's. It is there that you can find fat Japanese and Japanese women. There, in McDonald's, older schoolchildren like to gather, and you can see from them what American food is and how it affects a person. These are, to put it mildly, very fat girls and very fat boys.
With age, they fall out of youth fashion for McDonald's and change dramatically in appearance - they lose weight! A Japanese high school girl is a depressing sight, a Japanese young woman is a completely normal person, albeit with some peculiarities that always remind me that Russian girls are the most beautiful in the world!

A cup of tea?

What do the Japanese drink in everyday life besides beer and water? Tea, of course! After interviewing hundreds of Japanese people and having lived for many years in this country, I realized that drinking 2-2.5 liters of Japanese green tea a day is completely normal and even necessary for the body. I wrote a little book on the medicinal properties of green tea.
I call this drink the “internal vacuum cleaner” of the body. Try drinking a cup of properly brewed Japanese tea and after 20 minutes you will be forced to leave the team for a while. All harmful substances are already ready to leave you.

The combination of separate meals with clean water and green Japanese tea, from my point of view, is the tool that continues to lengthen the life of the Japanese. But…

More and more often I think about this. We all understand that it is beneficial to live “like Japanese”, bearing in mind their food system and income level. But, on the other hand, we will never succeed. Everything is different in our genes, we have been accustomed for a thousand years to eat not what the Japanese eat.
We cannot live without it, we always want to eat fried potatoes with bacon for dinner and wash down with vodka. We have different climatic conditions, different factors of life. If we completely switch to the Japanese style of food, we will inevitably have other health and mental problems.

We should drink a lot of Japanese tea - it is healthy and tasty, but we should not make "tracing paper" from the Japanese way of life. For us, Japanese cuisine is a large, tasty and healthy dietary supplement, but nothing more. Don't make a cult out of Japanese food! And don't forget about ecology, social, economic and other problems.
You can forget about them only after solving them, and for this you need to live a long time.

Why do Japanese people live longer than us?- this question gnaws at all specialists related to human life expectancy. The interest is quite justified, since the average life expectancy of a Japanese is almost 10 years higher than in Europe (85 versus 78 years). At the same time, the Japanese work much more than the Europeans.

The answers to this difficult question are simple enough. The very first reason is the diet of the representatives of the country of the rising sun. Remember what we eat - frozen incomprehensible legs, all boiled, fried, smoked. A normal Japanese person would hardly eat such food. First, the Japanese love everything fresh. They consume foods that have been harvested no more than two days ago. At the same time, Japan has a wonderful storage system. Secondly, the Japanese do not allow themselves to "mock" the food. They eat them either half-baked or raw. Oddly enough, they are right. After all, the more we heat-treat foods, the less vitamins remain in them. Thirdly, rice is the basis of Japanese cuisine. But not our usual rice, but a special short rice grown in Japan. At the same time, they do not peel off and it remains intact. Only in this situation, rice retains all its properties as much as possible.

According to one version, the Japanese live longer than we do, because they consume very little red meat. It is replaced by a little chicken and a huge amount of seafood. The researchers concluded that red meat combined with alcohol increases iron intake. At the same time, processes occur that contribute to the aging of our body.

Another root of longevity is the regular consumption of vegetables. Moreover, their variety is ten times greater than ours. The monastic diet is very popular in Japan, which involves the use of exclusive vegetables and other vegetarian products. The complete absence of dairy products in the diet is very typical for Japanese cuisine. On the one hand, this seems strange to us, but on the other hand, the Japanese do not consume cholesterol, which certainly increases life expectancy.

The Japanese drink a lot of green tea and water, while drinking it all day without waiting for thirst. Water prevents dehydration of the body, and green tea flushes out excess iron (!) From the body.

The inhabitants of the land of the rising sun have their own special philosophy of life. It has several accents. The Japanese will never keep extra rubbish in the apartment (remember our balconies ?!). It is a sufficient amount of free space, even in a small apartment, that helps the Japanese to breathe normally.

Unlike our children, the Japanese do not teach children to climb forward and shout "I did this good!" Therefore, Japanese kids have no sense of leadership at all. This is bad for one individual, but good for society as a whole.

The inhabitants of Japan are simply maniacs for cleanliness and travel. They wash themselves many times a day, and travel even more a year. The fact is that travel becomes an excellent relaxation for the body, which is constantly working.

Now let's talk a little about trade and agriculture. Since the Japanese are accustomed to eating all the freshest, then the manufacturer's task is to deliver food to the table or supermarket as soon as possible. It is to this goal that all trade relationships in the producer-consumer chain are subordinated. As far as agriculture is concerned, any of its products is marked with a peasant's license mark. It is the license that enables the peasant to trade, the client to monitor the quality of the product, and the state to receive taxes.

The psychological state of the Japanese nation can be described as super positive. The almost complete absence of stress (including political stress) generates stability not only for the Japanese currency, but also for the hearts of residents. What do we have !? Either the government does what it wants with us, then we tell the government what we think of it. And such rubbish every day!

The Japanese public sector focuses its efforts on only one thing - the common good of the entire nation. If necessary, the departments interact in close contact, which leads to quick and correct decisions. If the case is worth it, then unpopular decisions are made by order.

And the last factor of longevity is the culture of illness and communication with nature. It is customary to get sick in Japan quietly, and to be treated effectively. That is why there are no crazy queues for therapists in clinics there. Partly a healthy lifestyle is helped by contact with nature, which even residents of large cities try to regularly maintain.