Tips From Far-off Places

I've been reading "The Jungle Effect," by Daphne Miller.  She's a doctor who traveled to various regions of the world where certain diseases are non-existent.  Here are some tips she gleaned from Okinawans, notoriously long-living folks who have a very low incidence of breast and prostate cancers.

1.  Eat whole soy.  Try to have 2 servings a day of tofu, soy beans (edamame), tempeh, and miso.

2.  Try to eat two servings per week of fish (to get the fats and vitamin D you need).

3.  Eat meat in moderation.  Make sure it's lean.

4. Aim to do some form of aerobic exercise for at least 30 minutes, 5 times a week.  Start out doing less if necessary, but start doing something.

5.  Eat 5-6 servings per day of in-season veggies.  Have at least 5 servings per week of cruciferous veggies (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, kohlrabi, mustard greens, horseradish, rutabaga, turnips, and watercress).

6.  Make sure you get enough lycopene by eating watermelon (right down to the rind), guava, pink grapefruit, and tomatoes.

7.  Eat brown rice, never the white stuff.

8.  Drink as much green tea as you can each day (a minimum of 3 cups).

9.  Add sea veggies to your diet (wakame, kombu, hijiki, arame, and dulse).

10.  Eat your mushrooms--they have anti-cancer properties.  All kinds are good for you.

11.  Limit sweets.  Try to satisfy your cravings with fresh fruit.

12.  Take part in your community and keep stimulating your mind.  Many native peoples never stop being active members of a group or grow tired of learning new things.