Okinawa is a tropical archipelago to the far south of Japan. The island holds the world record for the number of years inhabitants live in good health. There are 54 centenarians per 100 000 people (that's roughly twice as many as in the UK!) and 15% of the world's supercentenarians (people of 110 and over) live on Okinawa, though the entire population of the island adds up to just 0.002% of the world's population. Something in the water?
The statistics are just as jaw-dropping when you look at the Okinawas' health: they suffer 5 times less serious and frequent illness than us, especially cardiovascular illness, breast and prostate cancer. The Okinawa don't just live longer: they live happy, healthy lives way into old age. Only 3% of the island's centenarians are invalids. Few people are overweight and they suffer far less diabetes, osteoporosis and dementia. They have an excellent quality of life physcially, psychologically and socially, because they remain happy, healthy and active into their 100s and beyond.
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