A Long Life
The idea of living past 100 years old sounds great. At the end of the day, if you have the opportunity to live that long but you are in terrible health, then what’s the point? The goal isn’t simply to live long, but it’s about living with a certain quality of life for as long as possible.
To tackle this problem, finding places around the world with an unprecedented number of healthy seniors might help provide clues to unlocking the secrets of a long-lasting life. In Okinawa, Japan for example, there are three times the number of centenarians than in the U.S. (when adjusted for population size).
One of the main rules according to Okinawan elders is “Hara Hachi Bu”. In English, this is the concept of having your food in moderation. It is a reminder to make sure to stop eating when their stomachs are 80% full. People must eat with mindfulness, intention and awareness, which is one the significant characteristics that Okinawan elders share.
Americans are consuming much more calories than is recommended, according to a study for the Pew Research Center. In 2017, the average American scarfed down more than 3600 calories each day while the recommended amount a person needs is in the range of 2000 to 3000 calories per day.
Is it harder to eat the recommended calories due to the options you have available around you? Maybe. Although, it wouldn’t be wise to play the victim in a situation that is related to your long-term health. The reasons for these disparities are abundant but, in the end, any struggle you may have with nailing down the proper caloric intake should be a hurdle to overcome rather than a reason to blame, compare or complain.
I am not a financial advisor and my comments should never be taken as financial advice. Investments come with risk, so always do your research and analysis beforehand.
