10 Secrets Of The Worlds Longest Lived People!

Did you know that environmental factors rather than good genes are responsible for the health and youthfulness of people?  This fact has been proven not only in the lab, but in studying world populations.  There are about 5 hotspots in the world where the natives of the land are long-lived and healthy.  Their rates of degenerative diseases, heart disease and cancer are low and non-existent.  Wouldn't you like to know their secrets?  Read on to learn about the 10 secrets of the world's longest lived people.

The five hot spots that enjoy vibrant health and longevity include: 

• Okinawa - an island in Japan
• Symi - an island in Greece
• Campodimele - a village in southern Italy
• Hunza - a valley in northwest Pakistan
• Bama - a country in southern China

The people in these areas are consuming the largest amounts of nutrition from their food.  In contrast, the people of the United States and other countries that have adopted a Western diet, eat too few nutritional foods. A large part of the American and Western diet comes from food in the form of processed food, which includes too many calories and offers too little in the form of high nutritional value.  It's no wonder the United States has the highest rates of disease and chronic illness in the world!

• Another problem with the food in the America diet is the lack of minerals in the soil.  Ideally we should be consuming food rich in minerals that make up at least seventeen to twenty minerals, thirteen vitamins, eleven essential amino acids and two essential fatty acids.   The reality is, Americans are only consuming foods that contain three minerals on a daily basis and not enough of them...potassium, magnesium, and calcium.

Here are some secrets I've gathered from these five cultures.  There are a lot more and I'll be writing about them as well in different posts.  Try to adopt some of these gradually to improve your health and the health of your friends and family!  I've noticed that adding a sea vegetable juice to my diet has made a huge difference because of the wonderful minerals in it!

You'll think many of these are common sense, but these cultures live this lifestyle. 

10 Secrets of the worlds longest lived people:  

1) Eat until you are only eight parts full.   The people of these cultures eat just enough and no more.   They are not left hungry because they consume lots of fresh vegetables and grains that contain fiber which fills them up and provides all the nutrition they need for the day. 

2) Eat at least seven servings of vegetables a day.  The only way to prevent disease and increase longevity is to consume foods that are a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals.  Vegetables contain vegetable protein and fiber as well as antioxidants.

3) Drink water.  American's consume diet soda's, iced teas, fruit drinks and everything else rather than plain old water.  All these other drinks contain artificial flavors and colors as well as other unneccessary and potentially harmful, ingredients.

4) Chew your food. American's rush when they eat their food and we are not properly chewing.  Chewing is essential for digestion as chewing sets off a chain of events that result in proper digestion and absorption of food.  The people of these cultures take the time to properly chew their food in a relaxed setting.  Yes, grabbing food on the go and cramming it down is unhealthy.

5) Have a glass of red wine with dinner. One thing all the cultures shared in common was having a drink of red wine with a meal once a day.  The secret of the wine, lies in what is found in the skin of wine, resveratrol.  This substance can lengthen the tails of your cells (telomeres) resulting in better health and possibly extension of life.

6) Make time for green tea.  If you want to live long, sip green tea several times a day.  Two to three cups is ideal.  Green tea is a natural anti-cancer agent, and ounce for ounce, contains more antioxidants than any other food or drink!  It's an easy thing to do and packs a powerful punch!

7) Jog...your memory. The people of the five hotspots never retire.  They are busy with their work or hobbies until the day they die.  Keeping the brain active is a critical aspect of aging.  Puzzles, hobbies, anything you like to do, do it and do it every day!

8) Have FAITH.  Being religious may or may not give you eternal life, but it's likely to lengthen your life. Studies show that finding meaning in your life and especially during stressful times has very beneficial effects on the body. All of the long-lived cultures are in touch with their spiritual lives and prayer is important to all of them.  Praying FOR people has extraordinary benefits as well.

9) LAUGH! Happy people get sick less often than unhappy ones.  Laughter reduces stress by reducing cortisol levels.  Laughter is sometimes called "inner jogging'!  Laughing gives your heart, diaphram, facial muscles a workout while releasing endorphins, nature's painkillers.  The people of these cultures have low stress and optimistic lives and are over all, a happy and strong group.

10) Eat yogurt.  yogurt is teeming with beneficial bacteria.  Good health starts in the gut and beneficial bacteria is important.  Half of our immune cells live in our intestines, so the better your digestion, the better your health.  The cultures I've spoken about eat yogurt daily. If you don't like yogurt, or don't eat it every day, a probiotic and enzyme supplement is critical.

I hope you enjoyed this article about 10 secrets of the world's longest living people.  Please comment or reply!