From My Readings This Week! ( From Discoverer.com)
1. Japan
Japan is at the very top of the list for life expectancy across the world. A combination of
healthy eating and overall active lifestyles, along with strong public healthcare, have all
contributed to Japan’s long life expectancy. Diet is typically cited as the most important
factor as to why so many Japanese people live long, healthy lives, but additional factors
like a sense of community and frequent exercise are also important elements that give
clues as to why there are over 60,000 centenarians living in Japan.
Japan’s Okinawa Island is a designated Blue Zone where the concept of ikigai might be
another key clue as to why so many of its residents live to be well over 100 years old.
Ikigai translates to “a reason for being” and is possibly the secret ingredient as to why
Japanese centenarians are so plentiful. Worldometer estimates that the overall
average life expectancy for Japan is almost 85 years old, with women living to be 88
on average and men 82.
2. Switzerland
Fresh Alpine air, beautiful hiking trails, and delicious cheese all add to Switzerland’s high
life expectancy, but there’s more to living past 100 than stunning scenery and fondue.
A great healthcare system, wealth security, and general happiness all play a factor in
Swiss citizens' high life expectancy.
Switzerland residents tend to have a life expectancy of 84.4 years old with women living
to be 86 and men 82.6. Swiss citizens have a smaller life expectancy gap between men
and women than most countries at just 3.4 years. While Switzerland had just
1,888 centenarians in 2023, one study suggests that 50% of Swiss children who
were born after the year 2000 will live to be over 100.
3. Singapore
On average, Singaporeans live to be 84.3, and like the other countries on this list, diet
and exercise certainly help. But Singapore's true aging secret may point to its
government, which has specific plans in place to specifically aid centenarians and
their elderly population in general.
Singapore became the world’s sixth Blue Zone in 2023 and has been focusing on its
rapidly aging population for some years now. Factors like a plant-based diet and
purposeful living both contributed to their designation but what really sets Singapore
apart are the country’s government initiatives. Socializing is encouraged through public
housing, an easy-to-use and vast public transportation network, and communal
gathering places like Hawker’s Centers all make Singapore an ideal place to live
to be 100.
4. Italy
Italy is another country that is home to a Blue Zone, the sunny island of Sardinia, but
the entire country wins a gold medal for life expectancy. Overall life expectancy in Italy
clocks in at 84.2 years of age, with men typically living to 82.15 and women 86.13.
The Mediterranean diet plays a huge role, with foods high in fiber-rich veggies,
whole grains, olive oil, and fresh fish. Italy also enjoys a vibrant sense of community
and familial ties with a regular habit of walking every day all lend to living a longer life.
5. Hong Kong & Macau
Although Hong Kong and Macau are separated by the South China Sea, and the 34-mile
long Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge, they share a few common factors: high life
expectancy and strong ties to China. Both of these places are listed as having the
highest life expectancy in the world, with Hong Kong pulling just slightly ahead.
While their small population size certainly contributes to their citizens' high life
expectancy, what it really boils down to is a healthy diet, a lifelong exercise routine,
and access to health care that emphasizes the elderly population.
On average, Hong Kong women typically live to be 88.6 years of age, while men tend
to live to be 83 years old. Macau is much the same with women living to be 88.11
and men, 82.8 years old on average. Hong Kong also belongs to the
WHO’s global network of age-friendly cities, although Macau may soon pull ahead
of its neighbor thanks to a combination of declining mental health and housing issues.
Both Hong Kong and Macau also happen to be located in warm climates that
promote an active lifestyle.
Meanwhile, Do You Want to live to 90 years old? A new report reveals how you can.
Researchers from health institutions in the Netherlands conducted a study in 2019, published
in the BMJ medical journal, to determine the link between body size and the likelihood of
reaching age 90.
Explore
To do so, they examined more than 7,000 men and women between ages 55 and 69 over
the course of three decades. They recorded the subjects’ height and weight, as well as their
physical activity, like gardening and walking. The team then grouped those activities into
three categories: less than 30 minutes daily, 30 to 60 minutes daily, and 90 minutes or more
daily. The participants were monitored until they died or turned 90. At the end of the study,
about 16% of the men and about 34% of the women survived to the age of 90. In fact, the
authors found women who were taller than 5 feet 9 inches were 31% more likely
to reach 90, compared to those who were under 5 feet 3 inches.
There was no apparent link between height and longevity among men. However, men who
did physical activity 90 minutes a day were 39% more likely to make it to 90, compared to
those who did less than 30 minutes. And every additional 30 minutes of daily physical activity
resulted in a 5% increase in their chances of turning 90.
The findings weren’t the same for women, though. Ladies who got in 30-60 minutes a day
were 21% more likely to see their 90th birthday, compared to those who managed just 30
minutes.
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