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I was searching on boston.com for Sasha Cohen results in the Olympic figure skating long program. Below the article about Sasha was an ad that read “Sasha Cohen’s Diet Secret”.  I clicked on the link and it brought me to an ad for Okinawan tea.  I read on to find that the people of Okinawa have the highest percentage Centenarians in the world.  They were attributing the high life expectancy to the fact that the “people of Okinawa consume more tea, per capita, than ANY other population in the world”.  The skeptic in me decided to do some research before I dished out 40 dollars for 60 tea bags filled with miracle tea that would rid me of all my health problems, make me thin, and keep me alive to 100 years of age and possibly beyond.  After all I need to do something drastic, I’m already due to die at the ripe old age of 80.6 years according to livingto100.com.  

According to my research, it was originally believed that the higher-than-average life expectancy was due to the high content of coral-calcium in the water.  Yet further studies show that Okinawans consume less calcium than that of their Western counterparts.

According to the Okinawan Program the key to their longevity is due to “a low-calorie, plant-based diet, regular exercise, a strong spiritual commitment and a positive outlook on life”. 

From the author of the Okinawan Program:

 A typical Okinawa diet includes seven servings of vegetables and fruit a day; seven servings of grains a day, two servings of soy products; fish several times a week and minimal dairy products and meat.

Exercise in Okinawa tends to be activities that connect the mind and body. “In Okinawa, they are not into a fitness regimen. They do hobbies. They do these things because this is what they’ve always done.” Their daily activities include traditional dance, karate and a lot of walking. They also partake in strenuous gardening, which makes them feel one with nature.

Spirituality is a strong force in Okinawa. “They pray almost daily in their homes” where they have altars and make offerings to their ancestors.

 

Finally, they lead relatively stress-free lives.