Healthy Living: The Simple Diagram That Explains Japan’s Life Expectancy

Not that we really needed a study to point this out, but if you’ve ever wondered why Japan’s life expectancy is so much higher than the rest of the world, it’s a lot simpler than you think: diet.

Two new studies caught our attention this weekend. The first study claimed that less than 3% of Americans are living what would be medically accepted as a ‘healthy lifestyle’, which is very worrying, and we hate to think of what the figure are over here in Ireland but here’s hoping we’re not quite that bad. The second study, plain and simply links healthy eating in Japan to a much longer life.

By analysing food and lifestyle questionnaires completed by 36,624 men and 42,920 women aged between 45 and 75 (for 15 solid years), none of whom had any history of cancer, stroke, heart or chronic liver diseases, the researchers arrived at some informative conclusions.

Those who followed the healthy eating guide, recommended by the Japanese government, enjoyed a 15 per cent lower mortality rate.

What’s more, they were less likely to have cerebrovascular vascular disease: a term, explained by the Independent who are reporting on the study, is used to describe conditions caused by problem with blood supply to the brain.

?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.?

Check out their simple and easy-to-follow guide here: