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3 Things To Learn From The Longest Living People on Earth

The island of longevity sounds like a myth. It is not.

By Aish kharkwalPublished 3 years ago 3 min read
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3 Things To Learn From The Longest Living People on Earth
Photo by K. K. Yam Amot on Unsplash

At some point in time, we all want to make changes to our routines and habits for a better life. There comes a time when a person tells themselves, “You gotta start doing better, you gotta adopt healthier ways”. I was going through that phase when I started researching and came to know about Okinawa.

The island of Okinawa is considered one of the blue zones of the world. Blue Zones are specific regions of the world with the most centenarians (people aged 100 years or older) per capita. Okinawa, known as the island of longevity, earned this title from its long line of centenarians.

Okinawa has the highest number of centenarians than any region of the world, with average life expectancy being 84 for men and 90 for women.

Okinawan people generally do not enjoy the comforts and services available to big cities. Then what is it that separates the Okinawan people from the rest of the world?

Moai

The term Moai refers to a group of “lifelong friends”. The goal of moai is to build a social support group that contributes to social, financial, and health interests. Okinawans have been practicing the art of moai for centuries. They gather for “social meet ups” in regular intervals of time and discuss various topics like life experiences, gossips, health, or financial assistance. They strongly practice the idea that social harmony is the foundation of living a happier life.

Snapshot from Jose Jeuland's documentary "Logevity Okinawa"

The origin of moai can be traced back hundreds of years ago when villages or communities needed a local financial system. Members would pool resources and money for public work or individual assistance. This idea later evolved into moai, meaning “lifelong companionship”

Ikigai

Ikigai (ee-key-guy) is a Japanese concept that combines the terms iki, meaning “alive” or “life,” and gai, meaning “benefit” or “worth.”. Ikigai means to have a sense of purpose in one’s life. Okinawans believe in the importance of ikigai, which helps them stay motivated throughout their life. Motivation and resilience help avoid stress and fills one with purpose each morning.

Studies have shown that those who have a “reason to live”, are at lower risk of heart and other diseases. Ikigai also helps in committing to things. Once a commitment is engraved in a person’s mindset, they can master anything they love.

The concept of ikigai covering both personal and social dimensions is achieved by the well-known ikigai diagram. This diagram includes overlapping spheres comprising:

  • What you love
  • What you are good at
  • What the world needs
  • What you can get paid for
The Ikigai diagram

Hara Hachi Bu

This one is not as complex as the two above. Hara Hachi Bu is a simple idea that means “Only eat till you’re 80% full”. The concept of Hara Hachi Bu originated in Okinawa where people practice it to have control over their eating habits. Not eating till you’re full puts significantly less stress on the human digestive system, thus lowering the risk of a stomach illness.

The average calorie intake of an Okinawan ranges from 1500–1700 calories/day while an average American’s calorie intake is 2500/day (approximate). Japan follows a similar concept to Hara Hachi Bu.

One can get started with Hara Hachi Bu in 3 simple steps:

  • Eat slowly
  • Focus on food
  • Use smaller vessels

Okinawan people use many but smaller plates while serving a meal. The idea behind this is to make eating food an experience. People tend to focus more on food when the food is served elegantly. Also, using smaller plates helps control meal intake while serving in many plates helps make a balanced meal.

A lot can be learned from Okinawa, not limiting to health but also a deeper understanding of social coexistence. Okinawan lifestyle can teach us how to have a positive outlook towards elderly life. The distinctive intensity of physical activity, avoiding binge diets, and keeping stress at bay are a few things we can learn from the youthful, elderly Okinawans.

Extending this Okinawan treasure to the world can help us better understand how humans harmonize with nature and discover newer ways to live a youthful life.

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