I'm sure some of you have heard about ones life expectancy in Japan. I've heard the average is 80 years old. Thats the AVERAGE people, and America's life expectancy TOPS at the ages of 60 and 70's. So the catalyst of this topic, why is there such a huge age expectancy gap between these two countries?
Now, I have no solid concrete evidence to support this nor do I think there is such evidence, but on a technical level, there are major differences that I think anyone could think of. Take for example; rice
Of course, rice is eaten world wide, and not just Asian descendants, but Japan specifically, rice is a main dish, or should I say the "prime" of all foods and if you are of Korean/Chinese/Japanese descent (forgive my ignorance), you will know what I am talking about. Compared to bread, wheats, and pasta's, white or brown or purple rice (yes, purple) are the lowest in calories and highest on carbohydrates. That right there is a positive health factor, a given. But lets take a look deeper in the city of Okinawa, Japan.
Although, as each and every generation comes and goes, we all forget some simple and healthy improvements that we need in our lives.
But the main point (sort of), there might be some sort of breakthrough technology in anime or gundam models where we will never be able to touch or see.
Me personally, want to live long enough to taste that.
Posted on 2008/05/05 18:48
Student
Registered on 2008/03/08 16:19
Nandeyane~
Registered on 2008/01/08 22:28
The cites in Japan are much cleaner than in the US, I think that's one of the major things.
Part human, part student, 100% loser
Registered on 2007/10/22 02:10
LOL, I thought Japanese lived longer because of seaweed... I watched a documentary on this Japanese man who lived to 100++ yers old...
Poor College Student
Registered on 2008/03/14 09:02
i'm chinese but i never heard of or seen purple rice.what does it taste like?taro?
Student
Registered on 2008/03/08 16:19
purple colored rice is common in Korea only....me thinks.
Me being a korean myself that is, it tastes just like white rice.
Student
Registered on 2007/08/22 12:50
purple rice is quite common here where I live. We call it "bario rice" as the purple rice we get is planted in bario, sarawak. basically it tastes just like white rice(maybe a bit better), but it's more expensive than normal white rice.
Otaku/Computer tech/Student
Registered on 2007/12/07 21:33
I've read quite a bit on this subject recently, It's late and I don't feel like typing out too much but, basically there have been studies done between Eastern (mainly Asian) countries in general and Western countries, regarding diet, outlook on life, personality, and cultural differences in general.
The findings show that Eastern countries generally tend to focus more on external factors, social factors and such rather than personal factors, this can lead to less self indulgence in many things and as such it CAN lead to better health, depending on what type of self indulgence we're talking about. These same studies used personality tests to come to the conclusion that people from Eastern countries tend to have much more optimistic outlooks on life than people from the US, this can lead to less stress and stress is one of the largest factors in health and longevity.
Studies have also found that
Eastern cultures tend to have diets that are MUCH lower in calories and higher in nutrients.
They have done correlational studies between cancer rates in every country, results show in one particular study (breast cancer rates), that Japan and many Easter countries have the lowest cancer rates, the US is among the highest.
One last thing I will mention, when polled, results showed that people from Eastern countries tend to do MUCH more cardiovascular exercise that people from the US.
Student
Registered on 2007/08/22 12:50
times have changed... asians eat more western fast foods(McDs, KFC, etc) nowadays...
Otaku/Computer tech/Student
Registered on 2007/12/07 21:33
While this is true, Asians do generally tend to eat much fewer calories and more nutrients. I know that some will eat just like westerners, junk food and such, but most don't. The occasional fast food won't hurt much, it's the constant living off of it that does. I myself (an American, unfortunately), have a typical western diet, very few nutrients and mostly fatty meats and such. This is something I'm trying to change but it was my choice to eat like this in the first place, just as any and everyone in eastern cultures can choose how they eat.
Unfortunately though, you're right about that, and if it doesn't change then people living in eastern cultures may end up becoming like those in western cultures. They could develop higher risks for all types of viruses, diseases, etc. and overall they may grow in size, in every way.
I think part of why Asian people tend to have a smaller build in general is due, in part, to the fact that all other cultures tend to eat more calories and sugars. If Asian countries adopt western ways of eating, and you give natural evolution a few generations, then Asians might end up the same size and just as unhealthy as westerners.
Otaku/Computer tech/Student
Registered on 2007/12/07 21:33
Oh yeah, btw. Just to give an example, how many times a month/week do you eat rice? I eat it about 3 times a month on average. =/ This is why there are such huge differences in the life expectancies and overall health.
I tend to eat more bread and potatoes and such, something I'm changing. I wanna get a rice steamer. xD
Student
Registered on 2008/03/08 16:19
for me i eat rice on a daily basis and whenever I go to a restaraunt around here, i try to avoid the heavy greased foods.
Only then you can actually start to feel food "slow" down on you. From eating rice everyday to greasy food...you will feel the difference and poll it pays to you're body.
film student
Registered on 2007/11/25 09:34
...Chinese-Canadian here. I eat rice as the main staple for my meals twice a day on average.
Student
Registered on 2007/12/12 21:53
Leisure Consultant, Writer, Webmaster
Registered on 2008/01/29 07:28
Yeah soonkiang is right. Times have changed and most Japanese people don't eat the same healthy food they used to. The life expectancy is so high because Japan's population is so old.
Systems programmer
Registered on 2008/04/05 02:01
ひきこもり/Hikikomori. Suits my current state more than a 大学生/University Student. ^^
Registered on 2007/12/04 23:16
Just for a talk, I like the picture. ^^
Living in tranquility in a village like the one depicted here will be quite nice, I think.. By the way would that contribute to the longevity of the Japanese? especially since I suspect that there are more such villages in Japan than in the US.
Videogame salesman
Registered on 2008/02/05 01:51
Here in Spain women lives 83,48 years and mens 76,96 (average).
My both grandmothers have 93 and 92 years, and they are perfect fine, can go outside and talk with people, and sometimes go out to the shops to buy food, they have a "good" life quality.
I prefer quality better than a long life, i dont need to achieve 100 years to stay the last ten years of my life waitin in a bed for my dead.
College Student
Registered on 2008/01/06 07:51
From what I heard, it's not because of the rice factor, It's because of the fishes. Most Japanese consume fishes, right?
Student
Registered on 2008/03/08 16:19
fishes, rice, and miso, tofu...all low calories, high on carbs.
6pack in Space, The Final Frontier
Lost in time
Registered on 2008/03/20 12:43
traditional diet would be a major contributor here. asian diets are mostly rice, fish, meat, with spicy curry and lots of vegetables.
(Personally i think the spice might have a role in burning the extra calories we might add to our body.)
Dont know much abt the western diets though so cant compare or comment on those.
Photography
Registered on 2007/11/01 15:55
wouldn't long life be due to genetics as well?
Otaku/Computer tech/Student
Registered on 2007/12/07 21:33
Genetics plays a role but not as large of one as you would think. Diet and exercise both play a much larger role.
Registered on 2007/12/08 07:40
Life expectancy in the US is 75/80 m/f.
vendor
Registered on 2008/01/23 08:25
Rice in japan are good (1st time eating japan rice) than US rice' i don't why people in the phillipines hate US rice (because of those scientific GMO) but older people known that the rice are the source of long life than the bread,wheat,et cetera...i love rice just i went fat (its full of calories eh) and put some veggies for a good life.
Stigmata Martyr
Registered on 2007/04/22 12:13
are those figures for modern japan or post ww2 Japan?
anyways, okinawans are known for their longevity what with the seafood and rice diet that they have. Japan also has a very small gene pool (compared to europe, america or the rest of asia) maybe because they're a bit on the xenophobic side. The gene for longevity might be very dominant though I am just speculating.
i doubt that people living in the major cities have such long lifespans though. with such a competetive and driven work ethic that leads to stress and the prevalent smoking.
Student/Part-timer
Registered on 2008/04/28 16:44
According to the CIA The World Factbook 2008 on wikipedia
Japan, Canada and Australia have life expectancy over 80.
But most of the industrialized countries are over 70 as well.
If you take a look at the color coded map, you'll notice only the poorer nations have low life expectancy.
As for why some places have higher life expectancy, I would think it has a lot to do with societal values.
Genes play a very small role in this.
Also (imo) how good a healthcare system determines life expectancy
Programmer
Registered on 2008/04/29 10:59
秒速5センチメートル (Byousoku 5 cm) anyone?
Student
Registered on 2008/03/08 16:19
lol are you talking about the scenery in the picture?
great movie btw ^^
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