They have the lowest rates of cancer, heart disease, stroke, dementia, diabetes, and osteoporosis. My great grandmother fell into this category living until 100 years of age. An Okinawan immigrant who worked in the pineapple plantation fields of Hawaii, she was one of those who climbed trees to trim them in her 80's.

Some of the primary reasons behind this longetivity is their lifestyle, strong sense of community, and diet. The older generation of Okinawans tend to lead a non-sedentary lifestyle such as tending to a vegetable garden or doing other manual labor to keep themselves busy. Another important facet is a strong sense of community whether it be just getting together with neighbors or being involved with community groups. Then there is the diet consisting mainly of fruits, vegetables, fish, lean meats, and soy products such as tofu. One staple of the Okinawan diet is the Okinawan purple sweet potato (紅芋, beni imo).

Younger generations of Okinawans however are the exact opposite with higher incidents of obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease and lower life expectancies due to a more westernized lifestyle and diet.

The following videos briefly cover this topic.

Okinawa's Living Relics

Okinawans and their longetivity