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This week the Technique is from Ms.Shelley Melton, Sho-Dan
Midtown Karate Dojo, NYC.
Arigato,
Kyoshi.
Okinawa Program
The book, the Okinawa Program is getting a lot of press lately. Here's
what SELF magazine had to say about it:
Searching for the fountain of Youth? Get directions from the Okinawans,
the world's longest-lived people. Those native to the islands between
Japan and Taiwan have 80 percent fewer heart attacks, 80 percent fewer cases of breast cancer and a 50 percent lower risk of hip fracture than
Americans, according to the new book The Okinawa Program.
To reap the
benefits, follow these three rules:
1. Eat like an Okinawan. The average island dweller takes in about 1,900calories a day (and seven not five servings of fruits and veggies), while
the average American consumes about 2,500.
The islands' centenarians get by on just 1,250 calories. They fill up on sweet potatoes, edamame (raw soybeans in the pod) and cabbage, plus lots of whole grains, complex carbs that provide long-term energy.
The result: lower blood-sugar levels,
less body fat and therefore longer lives.
2. Nurture your spirit. Okinawan spirituality blends a reverence for
nature with a deep respect for others. For instance, if a vendor sells sub-par
fruit, Okinawans will continue to buy from the vendor so she doesn't fall into poverty. Nobody's suggesting you eat bad fruit, but studies have
shown that having a strong social network can boost immunity.
3. Make exercising a way of life. Okinawans see physical activity as a
way to live in tune with nature. They practice a dance similar to tai chi,
they garden religiously and they walk - a lot - "even though cars are
everywhere," says coauthor Bradley J. Willcox, M.D. That approach has
paid off: Their body-mass index is about 21, while the average American's is 26.
Arigato, Ms. Melton