5 Facts about the Okinawa Diet, a Claimed Diet Can Make Longevity

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Okinawa Prefecture is the largest area of the Ryukyu Islands located in the southern part of Japan. Okinawa is one of five regions in the world known as the blue zone. People who live in the blue zone are known to have a very long age compared to other world populations.

This fact can be discussed because of the genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that they adhere to. Experts even believe this is because of the food factors of the Okinawan people.

The following are the 5 Facts on the Okinawa Diet, a diet that is claimed to make longevity

1. The Okinawa diet refers to the traditional diet of people living on the island of Okinawa

The Okinawa diet refers to the traditional diet of people living on the Japanese island of Okinawa. Their unique diet and lifestyle are recognized as making them residents who have the highest life span in the world.

Traditional Okinawan diets are low in calories and fat, but high in carbohydrates. This diet emphasizes vegetables and soy products in addition to noodles, rice and fish for a small amount of occasionally.

In addition, Okinawan culture treats food as a medicine and utilizes many practices from traditional Chinese medicine. The Okinawan lifestyle also emphasizes daily physical activity and a regular diet.

2. Basic foods in traditional Okinawa diets

Many benefits of the Okinawa diet can be attributed to a supply that is rich in whole foods, nutrient dense, high antioxidants. Essential nutrition is very important for proper body function, while antioxidants protect the body from cell damage.

Unlike other Japanese, Okinawans only consume a little rice. On the contrary, their main calorie source is sweet potato, followed by grains, beans, and fiber-rich vegetables.

Basic foods in traditional Okinawan diets can be categorized as below:

• Vegetables (58-60%): sweet potatoes (orange and purple), seaweed, seaweed, bamboo shoots, daikon radish, bitter melon, cabbage, carrots, Chinese okra, pumpkin, and green papaya
• Grains (33%): millet, wheat, rice, and noodles
• Soy food (5%): tofu, miso, natto, and edamame
• Seafood (1-2%): mostly white fish, seafood

3. Foods to avoid in the Okinawa diet

Traditional Okinawan diets are quite strict compared to modern diets. This is because the geography of the island of Okinawa is quite isolated, so that various kinds of food have not been accessed.

To follow this diet, you must limit the following food groups:

• Meat: beef, poultry, and processed products such as bacon, ham, salami, hot dogs, sausages and other cured meats
• Animal products: eggs and milk, including milk, cheese, butter, and yogurt
• Processed foods: processed sugars, breakfast cereals, snacks, and processed cooking oil
• Legumes: mostly legumes, besides soybeans
• Other foods: most fruits, as well as nuts and seeds

Because the modern version of the Okinawa diet is based on calorie content, this allows for more flexibility. Some low-calorie foods such as fruit are still allowed.

4. Able to make long life

One of the benefits of the Okinawa diet is that the food consumed can have a significant impact on age and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. That's because the types of food in the Okinawa diet contain antioxidants with high quality and high nutritious foods.

Okinawa is home to those over a hundred years old or people who live at least 100 years. Research shows that antioxidant-rich foods can help slow the aging process by protecting cells from free radical damage and reducing inflammation.

5. Weaknesses of the Okinawa diet

Like every diet that also has weaknesses, like the Okinawa diet. Among them is this diet which prohibits certain types of foods that are quite healthy as well as fruits and eggs. As a result, a person can lack fiber, vitamins, and minerals that the body needs.

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