Among the world’s developed countries, Japan has the highest life expectancy. What accounts for this known fact, you may ask. There are several reasons for the longevity of Japan’s citizens. These include one’s genetic inheritance, the overall improvement of living standards, engaging daily in healthy eating habits, and maintaining a realistic balance between work schedules and leisure times.
5 longevity secrets that Japanese people practice daily
1. Drink more water
In today’s current world of convenience, there are a plethora of shops and supermarkets that supply a copious variety of drinks and beverages. Young people, in particular, enjoy consuming these processed bottled drinks more so than drinking water to relieve their thirst. This has become a bad habit.
These modern beverages contain additives and preservatives which can affect the kidneys. Such beverages have an adverse effect on the metabolism and detoxification function of the kidneys, and as such, can’t really quench one’s thirst. Note that a large number of these substances may eventually cause blockages within the body. Drinking plenty of water daily is necessary to maintain good health.
2. Daily sunlight exposure
People who live in modern society constantly find themselves under great pressure. Many people work indoors under artificial lights. They rarely go out into the sunlight during work hours. Over time this can lead to various health problems.
Health experts suggest that proper exposure to sunlight is very beneficial to human health. It promotes the formation of essential vitamins e.g. Vitamin D, improves human immunity, reduces the risk of disease, and helps prevent myopia (short-sightedness).
3. Avoid late night eating
Currently, people are faced with increasing workloads that have led to higher stress and pressure being experienced in daily life. In order to relieve their stress, people have resorted to pursuing late-night entertainment and leisure activities. This trend has had an adverse effect on their sleep and rest patterns resulting in poorer work performances. Irregular eating times and unhealthy diet choices, such as eating heavy and greasy foods, eventually lead to poor health.
Such an indulgent lifestyle will eventually burden the correct functioning of the liver and kidneys. Nightly rest is precisely the time when the liver and kidneys require replenishing.
Instead, these organs are forced to accelerate their job of detoxifying and metabolizing the food. Overworking these organs will eventually damage their overall function and health.
4. Being happy is key to longevity
According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, there is a great correlation between emotion and health. People who are constantly in a state of prolonged stress and depression will cause their qi and blood to be blocked leading to toxins building up in the body. This further leads to the obstruction of the metabolism of various organs in the body. Being happy is one of the secrets of longevity. If you can consciously maintain a happy mood daily, find appropriate relaxation techniques, and relieve the daily pressures of life, your body will have a smoother circulation and achieve the effect of prolonging life.
5. Upon arising, drink water
Drinking a glass of water after getting up in the morning greatly aids your health. Please note that you should drink the water after brushing your teeth, so that the bacteria in the mouth will not get into the body.
This daily ritual will promote the metabolism of the body’s various organs and aid in the excretion of toxins. Ingesting water in the morning can increase the metabolic rate, lubricate the intestines and stomach, detoxify and nourish the skin, and accelerate the burning of fat.
Translated by Patty Zhang and edited by Maria
