The "OKINAWAN" Experience - The Secrets to a Longer Life

The Asian Food Information Centre (AFIC) ran an article on 31st March, 2008, on what can we do to increase our chances of living a LONG and HEALTHY LIFE!

In essence, the article said that in almost every country in the world, the fastest growing population group is the 60 years and over age group. This has been attributed to improved health care, better housing, increased incomes and more nutritious diets. The countries in the world with the greatest life expectancies include Japan, Australia, Italy, Greece and Sweden. Japan tops the longevity stakes with a life expectancy of 86 years for women and 79 years for men. The number of people living to be 100 years or more in Japan has increased greatly. In 1963, there were only 153 recorded centenarians in the country while by 2006 the figure had increased to 28,395, of which 85% were women.

The article then went on to say that the aging process is thought to be due to the accumulation of free radicals (substances formed as a result of normal body processes) which damage body tissues and DNA. In younger people, this damage is quickly and easily repaired. However, as we get older the damage accumulates resulting in chronic inflammation and irreversible DNA damage. This in turn increases the incidence of age-related conditions such as cancer and heart disease. But it appears that there are steps we can take to reduce the speed of this aging process and increase our chances of blowing out those 100 candles!

Studies conducted on rats have shown that lowering energy (calorie) intake can extend the lifespan by 30 per cent. It is thought that fewer calories results in a decrease in the production of free radicals and hence an increase in longevity. Researchers have found lower blood sugar levels, reduced insulin levels and a reduction in the production of free radicals in rats fed low calorie diets. Low calorie diets have also been shown to increase the lifespan of worms, mice and flies and an ongoing experiment in monkeys is showing positive results too.

The study looked to the OKINAWANS, as one of the most studied elderly populations is a group of people living on the Japanese island of Okinawa. It is believed that Okinawa has the world's largest number of centenarians (people living over 100 yrs) with 50 people per 100,000 aged over 100 yrs. In most developed countries including the USA, the rate is 10-20 per 100,000. So what do the Okinawans do that helps prolong their lives?

What the study found was that apart from the fact that Okinawans appear to have “better” genes for aging, there are probably other factors which contributed to their longevity. One of these is their low saturated fat diet which is high in seafood, seaweed, fruit and vegetables. The other striking factor is that their diet is low in calories, due to a cultural tradition called “hara hachi bu” meaning “eat until you are only 80% full”, which is widely practiced in Okinawa. The Okinawans consume 20% fewer calories than the average Japanese diet which in turn is lower than that consumed in most other countries. In effect this means they consume about 500 calories less than the typical 2,000 plus calorie-diet consumed daily by an adult woman in a Western country.



The article then went on to provide Tips for a Longer Life.

Based on the Okinawan experience, it can be safely said that the aging process is influenced by a variety of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. While we can't control for all of these, there are a lot of things we can do to increase our chances of living longer. Following are some factors that can help contribute to a longer life:

Stay active – exercise not only helps keep body fat levels down, it also keeps the brain active. A US study of 6,000 women aged 65 yrs and above, found that those who were active tended to retain their cognitive function better than those who were sedentary. Increased cardiovascular fitness appears to be linked to better brain function.

Watch those calories – while a severe reduction in calories is not advised if you are normal weight or underweight, try to concentrate on wholesome foods like fruit, vegetables and whole grains, and aim to keep off those kilos that come creeping up with age. Watch that serving sizes don't get too big and make sure you offset your calorie intake by being active. If you are overweight, it's a good idea to drop the excess kilos through a healthy diet and exercise plan.

Load up on fruits and vegetables – the more brightly colored the better. Fruits and vegetables are rich sources of bioflavenoids and other antioxidants which are known to help neutralize free radicals. They are also low in fat and provide dietary fiber. Aim for a minimum of five servings of fruits and vegetables daily and make sure you get lots of variety.

Choose the good fats – studies in populations that live longer in both Europe and Japan, show that their diets tend to be low in saturated fats (the type that raise cholesterol). Instead choose moderate amounts of mono-unsaturated fats (olive oil, canola oil, fatty fish, nuts, seeds, flax). Choose fish two to three times a week.

Get enough sleep – a lack of sleep increases the risk of obesity and it can affect metabolism and hormone production. Aim for 7-8 hours a night.

Moderate alcohol – high alcohol intakes are linked to increased body weight and other health issues including certain cancers. If you drink alcohol, limit it to just one to two drinks daily and aim for 1-2 alcohol-free days a week.

De-stress – whatever works for you. Meditation, yoga, religion, a simple cup of tea or a walk in a garden.

Don't smoke – smoking is linked to an increased risk of cancers, heart disease and stroke.

To read this article in FULL, which is published in The Asian Food Information Centre (AFIC), CLICK HERE!

Do you have time to go for the minimum of five servings of fruits and vegetables daily, with variety thrown in? 

If not, go with MonaVie for your VITAL NUTRITIONAL NEEDS, inclusive of your needs for HIGH FIBER CONTENT!!!

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What a REVELATION - SINGAPORE: Many Don't Seek Help for Chest Pains!!! Majority Would Neglect Chest Pains Because of Concerns Over Cost of Treatment!!!

Cardiovascular disease was the top killer in Singapore in 2008, accounting for 32.4 per cent of all deaths.
An Asiaone article published on January 24, 2010, that was based on a survey and titled "Many don't seek help for chest pains", says that one-fifth of respondents would rest rather than seek medical help.

DESPITE knowing that chest pains are an early warning sign of a heart attack, about a fifth of Singaporeans would lie down in bed and rest rather than seek medical help, according to an independent survey.

Conducted earlier this month, the 22-question survey was e-mailed to more than 400 people over the age of 16 and was demographically representative of the population.

The results, revealed to The Straits Times yesterday, found that while 70 per cent of Singaporeans surveyed knew chest pains and breathlessness are warning signs of a heart attack, 21.8 per cent did not see the need to seek medical attention.


A further 13.6 per cent of respondents would call an ambulance, while 15.6 per cent would immediately go to a hospital's accident and emergency department.

The survey also showed more than half of respondents think heart disease is not as deadly as cancer. However, cardiovascular disease, which includes stroke and heart disease, is the leading cause of death and claims 15 lives each day - just under a third of all deaths in 2008. Cancer was responsible for 29.3 per cent of deaths that same year.

More than three-quarters of respondents accurately picked the risk factors for heart disease including high cholesterol, high blood pressure and bad diet, but only 36 per cent knew diabetes was also a risk factor.

Some of the findings from the Survey are as follows:

TOP FIVE REASONS FOR NEGLECTING CHEST PAINS*

Majority would neglect chest pains because of concerns over cost of treatment.

• Worried about cost of treatment - 51.5%
• Fearful of diagnosis - 32.2%
• Afraid of surgery - 30.2%
• Worried about recovery period/loss of pay - 19.6%
• Worried about side effects - 18.3% 

REACTIONS TO CHEST PAINS

About one in five would lie down in bed if experiencing chest pains.

• Lie down in bed and rest - 21.8%
• Go to GP - 20%
• Call family - 18.8%
• Go to hospital/ER - 15.6%
• Call an ambulance - 13.6%
• Don't know/Not sure - 6.7%
• Others - 3.5%

HEART ATTACK WARNING SIGNS*

Confusion between signs of heart attack and stroke

When asked to choose heart attack symptoms from a list of 10 warning signs (comprising five signs each of stroke and heart attack), 42.1 per cent selected stroke signs instead, which are mainly numbness of limbs and loss of balance/coordination.

• Chest discomfort/pains - 96%
• Shortness of breath - 90.1%
• Cold sweat - 64.6%
• Back or jaw discomfort/pains - 27.2%
• Nausea/vomiting - 23.8% 

NOTE: * Figures do not add up to 100% as respondents could pick more than one answer

To read this article in FULL, which was first published in The Straits Times, CLICK HERE!

Heart problems were almost non-existent in most Asian countries where the typical diet consisted mainly of fish, vegetables, rice and other foods low in saturated fat. Tragically, as these countries have become industrialized and traditional diets are being replaced with Western diets, there has been an alarming rise of coronary heart disease. Unfortunately, most of these types of foods are high in salt, sugar, fat or calories and have low nutrient content.

In an article posted by Dr. Mercola titled "7 Simple Steps for a Healthy Heart", it states that The American Heart Association (AHA) has, for the first time, identified seven health factors and lifestyle behaviors its research indicates are necessary to keep your heart in good shape.

The AHA says ideal cardiovascular health for adults is defined by these health measures:

1. Never smoked or quit more than a year ago
2. A healthy body mass index (BMI)
3. Physical activity, and the more the better
4. Blood pressure below 120/80.
5. Fasting blood glucose less than 100 milligrams/deciliter
6. Total cholesterol of less than 200 milligrams/deciliter
7. Eating a healthy diet

The AHA hopes the seven factors could improve the cardiovascular health of Americans by 20 percent by the year 2020, and also reduce deaths from cardiovascular-related diseases and strokes by 20 percent.

Not only is it IRONIC that the majority would neglect chest pains because of concerns over cost of treatment, it could end up as the ULTIMATE TRAGEDY!!! So, if one thinks that S$220 is too much to pay for a month's consumption of MonaVie juice, one should perhaps think again as certainly the COST OF TREATMENT FOR HEART ATTACKS WOULD SURELY BE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER!!! Not only that, it could undesirably result in the TRAGIC LOSS OF LIFE!!!


Among the reported benefits/features of this deep purple Açai berry are: • Prevents arteriosclerosis • Provides anti-allergenic support • Helps prevent blood clots • High levels of dietary fiber • High levels of essential amino acids and trace minerals • High levels of plant sterols, which have been shown to help control cholesterol • Essential fatty acids ratio that resembles olive oil, which has been shown to help combat heart disease • Protein profile similar to eggs • Very low sugar content • Greater energy/stamina • Improved mental focus • Prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's • Better sleep • Improved digestion • Improved sexual function • Immune system support • High levels of antioxidants • Anti-aging support • Promotes better circulation.

Go with MonaVie for your VITAL NUTRITIONAL NEEDS and for BETTER CARE OF YOUR BODY!!!

Please COMPLETE the FORM right at the BOTTOM of the PAGE, should you wish to REGISTER IMMEDIATELY to become a DISTRIBUTOR or to become a CONSUMER / PREFERRED CUSTOMER to BEGIN your JOURNEY with MONAVIE.

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The WAKE-UP CALL!!! - HEALTH is WEALTH!!! WEALTH = (W)hen (E)verything (A)ll (L)eads (T)o (H)ealth!!! GOOD HEALTH is PRICELESS!!!

I used to jokingly say that WEALTH stood for
(W)hen (E)verything (A)ll (L)eads (T)o (H)ealth!!! As if I needed confirmation, on December 31, 2009, AsiaOne On-Line ran an article titled "Starting Anew" - HEALTH is WEALTH. Here are EIGHT RESOLUTIONS (I guess that EIGHT was used because it is AUSPICIOUS to the CHINESE) to usher in a brand new decade - and a whole new you. The main point is that HEALTH is WEALTH, and the article offered EIGHT RESOLUTIONS to usher in a BRAND NEW DECADE!

The article quoted that Dr Soon Chao Yang, a consultant cardiologist at Nobel Heart Centre at Mount Alvernia Medical Centre, Singapore, is all for eating more fruits and vegetables.

The article also quoted that you should also eat a balanced diet and take lots of "brain food" rich in antioxidants and Omega-3 fatty acids.

Click HERE to read the FULL AsiaOne On-Line article.



In The Antioxidant Miracle, Lester Packer, PhD, states, "Scientists now believe that free radicals are causal factors in nearly every known disease, from heart disease to arthritis to cancer and cataracts.  In fact, free radicals are a major culprit in the aging process itself."  It is this chain reaction of unstable free radicals in our body that create cellular damage, leading to unbridled inflammation and eventually disease.   This process of oxidation is much like the rusting of iron, but it is in the very cells of our body.


The MonaVie premier blend of Açai Berry juice offers an unrivalled level of ANTIOXIDANTS that your body needs to combat these FREE RADICALS! Today’s environment of stress, pollution, processed foods, and nutrient deficient fruits and vegetables drives this life-robbing, pre-mature aging process and diseases at a higher rate than ever - yet points to a single, simple solution. 


Start your new HEALTH REGIME by IMMEDIATELY COMMITTING to RID YOUR BODY of FREE RADICALS!!! Say YES to MONAVIE!!!


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Step Aside, Cholesterol...Study - Inflammation Levels Better Heart Disease Predictor (CBS News, New York, January 2005)

New Weapon For Heart Disease (CBS, February 24, 2005)

A little-known protein may be able to control inflammation in the blood vessels and battle heart disease. The Early Show's Dr. Emily Senay reports.

(CBS) Inflammation could be a prime culprit in heart disease, a new study shows.

In fact, reports The Early Show medical correspondent Dr. Emily Senay, a new school of thought is emerging that says inflammation may play a larger role in heart disease than cholesterol levels.

Senay explains that inflammation is the body's natural immune system reaction to infection or injury, like the redness and swelling around a wound. It can also occur in tissues and the blood vessels within the body, where we can't see or feel it.

It happens in blood vessels along with the fat buildup associated with hardening of the arteries.

Other causes include high blood pressure or chronic low-level infections that put constant pressure on the immune system.

Inflammation is measured with a blood test for C-reactive protein, or CRP, which is produced by the body when it's fighting off infection.

A new study offers the strongest evidence yet that inflammation is a major factor in the progression of heart disease.

Details of this study, as covered by CBS News, can be accessed here, by clicking on this link.



Watch CBS News Videos Online

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RealHealthAnswers.com - Special Acai Berry Issue - The #1 Acai Berry Information Resource Available Today

Of all the things we can do to make incremental changes in our health, vitality and quality of life, there are precious few single choices or actions that have such far-reaching and dynamic effects that they can potentially be game-changers in propelling us forward in all areas of our wellness,  and the prevention of disease. The subject of this month's feature delivers a strong answer to that elusive promise, on a level that has perhaps never occurred in our lifetimes. While that may sound like a stretch, take some time with this issue.  After compiling the research, science and bottom-line results for this feature issue, we believe it could be the among the most important and impactful news you can get and apply in your life today for your current and future health. That is certainly the resounding message we got from some of the best and brightest minds in wellness, whose research and experience on this compelling topic is highlighted here in this issue on the amazing açaí berry from Brazil.

Researchers now all point to one single culprit It is not often, looking across the intimidating sea of health research, that we find near unanimous  agreement from top experts and across the board research findings converging into one singular  cause of virtually every disease and condition that plagues the US and world today at alarming rates. However, that is exactly what is now happening.  In The Antioxidant Miracle, Lester Packer, PhD, states, "Scientists now believe that free radicals are causal factors in nearly every known disease, from heart disease to arthritis to cancer and cataracts.  In fact, free radicals are a major culprit in the aging process itself."  It is this chain reaction of unstable free radicals in our body that create cellular damage, leading to unbridled inflammation and eventually disease.   This process of oxidation is much like the rusting of iron, but it is in the very cells of our body.  Today’s environment of stress, pollution, processed foods, and nutrient deficient fruits and vegetables drives this life-robbing, pre-mature aging process and diseases at a higher rate than ever - yet points to a single, simple solution.

To visit the RealHealthAnswers.com WEB-Site, click here.

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Clinical Study Verifies the Ability of MonaVie Active's Antioxidant-rich Formula to Help Protect Cells from Oxidative Damage

Dr. Alexander G. Schauss, the lead scientist in the Natural and Medicinal Products Division of AIBMR Life Sciences, spoke about recent studies involving MonaVie products. One of these studies, which was published in the September 24, 2008, edition of The Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, verifies the ability of MonaVie Active’s antioxidant-rich formula to help protect cells from oxidative damage. To view these clinical studies, visit MonaVie.com/science.

Additionally, on MonaVie Pulse, Dr. Kris-Etherton, a cardiovascular nutritionist, outlined the American Heart Association's recommendations to decrease risk of cardiovascular disease: (1) Consume an overall healthy diet. (2) Aim for low LDL cholesterol levels. (3) Aim for normal blood pressure. (4) Aim for normal blood glucose levels.

"Each of these recommendations includes eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables," Dr. Kris-Etherton said. "This is where MonaVie fits the bill perfectly, especially with its plant sterols," which studies suggest play a key role in lowering cholesterol.*

* Foods containing at least 0.4 grams per serving of plant sterols, eaten twice a day with meals for a daily total intake of at least 0.8 grams and as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease. Two servings (4 ounces) of MonaVie Pulse contain 0.8 grams of plant sterols.

Call me at: +65 9630-1658 RON YEAP

Alternatively, please COMPLETE the FORM right at the BOTTOM of the PAGE, should you wish to REGISTER IMMEDIATELY to become a DISTRIBUTOR or to become a CONSUMER / PREFERRED CUSTOMER to BEGIN your JOURNEY with MONAVIE.