Ikigai
Ikigai
Ikigai
IKIGAI
Not only do they live much longer than the rest of the world’s
population, they also suffer from fewer chronic illnesses such as cancer
and heart disease; inflammatory disorders are also less common.
Many of these centenarians enjoy enviable levels of vitality and health
that would be unthinkable for people of advanced age elsewhere.
Their blood tests reveal fewer free radicals (which are responsible for
cellular aging), as a result of drinking tea and eating until their stomachs
are only 80 percent full.
Women experience more moderate symptoms during menopause, and
both men and women maintain higher levels of sexual hormones until
much later in life.
The rate of dementia is well below the global average.
Though we will consider each of these findings over the course of the
book, research clearly indicates that the Okinawans’ focus on ikigai gives a
sense of purpose to each and every day and plays an important role in their
health and longevity.
1. Okinawa, Japan (especially the northern part of the island). The locals
eat a diet rich in vegetables and tofu typically served on small plates. In
addition to their philosophy of ikigai, the moai, or close-knit group of
friends (see page 15), plays an important role in their longevity.
2. Sardinia, Italy (specifically the provinces of Nuoro and Ogliastra). Locals
on this island consume plenty of vegetables and one or two glasses of
wine per day. As in Okinawa, the cohesive nature of this community is
another factor directly related to longevity.
3. Loma Linda, California. Researchers studied a group of Seventh-day
Adventists who are among the longest-living people in the United States.
4. The Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica. Locals remain remarkably active after
ninety; many of the region’s older residents have no problem getting up at
five thirty in the morning to work in the fields.
5. Ikaria, Greece. One of every three inhabitants of this island near the
coast of Turkey is over ninety years old (compared to less than 1 percent
of the population of the United States), a fact that has earned it the
nickname the Island of Long Life. The local secret seems to be a lifestyle
that dates back to 500 BC.