Each of these countries has longevity secrets that many Vietnamese people have also practiced. However, the key lies in maintaining these good habits daily.
Life, aging, illness, and death are natural laws of human existence. Some people unfortunately pass away at a young age, while others can enjoy long and healthy lives.
Excluding unexpected situations such as accidents, how can you live long and healthy?
According to the World Health Organization’s 2018 Global Health Statistics, Japan ranks first in the world for the highest average life expectancy at 84.2 years, with an average life expectancy of 87.1 years for females and 81.1 years for males.
Switzerland and Spain follow in second and third places, respectively. The subsequent countries in the ranking are France, Singapore, Australia, Italy, Canada, South Korea, and Norway.
Scientists conclude that the people of these countries possess numerous good lifestyle habits worth emulating.
Japan: 2 Eating Habits, 1 Healthy Preference
1. Japanese people “love fish as if it were life itself”
Japan is one of the countries with the highest fish consumption in the world, with an average Japanese person consuming over 100 kg of fish each year, which is 5-6 times the world average.
Japanese people consume more fish than rice on a per capita basis every year. This country, which accounts for less than 2% of the world’s population, consumes up to 70% of the world’s eel.
Fish is rich in protein essential for human growth and development, and the protein in fish is superior to that found in poultry and livestock, offering a more delicious flavor.
Japan is one of the countries with the highest fish consumption in the world.
Notably, beef takes 5 hours to digest in the human stomach, while fish only takes 2 to 3 hours. The human body can absorb 83-90% of the protein from fish, whereas it can only absorb 75% of the protein from red meat.
2. Japanese cuisine primarily emphasizes originality
Unlike the Chinese, who prefer strong cooking methods like frying and stir-frying, Japanese cooking mainly involves raw, steamed, chilled, or boiled foods to preserve the original flavors of the dishes.
In the Japanese diet, there is generally less oil, less salt, and fewer spices, with a principle of eating lightly and trying to maintain the original taste of various nutritional components.
Cooking methods such as steaming, chilling, and boiling can provide fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other bioactive substances in their greatest forms, reducing the production of carcinogenic substances and significantly benefiting health and longevity.
3. Japanese people enjoy bathing and walking
The longevity of Japanese people is closely linked to their health care routines.
Japanese people are known to be the most avid bathers in the world, with well-equipped bathrooms in every home and public baths scattered throughout the community.
Many Japanese people are interested in the exercise method of walking.
Japanese bathing is not merely about cleanliness; it is also very special. Japan has innovated various bathing methods, such as sake baths, flower baths, vegetable broth baths, and apple baths, which not only cleanse the body but also help prevent and treat certain ailments and relieve stress.
Moreover, many Japanese people are also very keen on walking as an exercise method. Some studies suggest that this is one of the main factors contributing to Japan’s top average life expectancy in the world.
Switzerland: 2 Foods for Longevity
1. Swiss people love dairy products
Eating cheese and drinking milk in moderation is a good habit for longevity.
Some studies indicate that the high consumption of cheese and dairy products by the Swiss is a key factor in their longevity.
Cheese is rich in vitamins, calcium, and protein, contributing to increased immunity, protecting vision, and enhancing metabolism.
Eating cheese and drinking milk in moderation is considered a good habit for extending life. In Switzerland, where there are many high-quality pastures, good dairy cattle breeds, and a long-standing cheese-making tradition, these factors are crucial for the country to achieve the second-highest average life expectancy in the world.
2. Swiss people enjoy pure chocolate
Chocolate can cause the human brain to release dopamine, increasing feelings of excitement and happiness.
Swiss people invented milk chocolate in 1875, and today, Swiss chocolate is famous worldwide. Research indicates that chocolate can prompt the human brain to release dopamine, enhancing feelings of joy and excitement. Additionally, scientists have found a link between dark chocolate and a reduced risk of heart disease and stroke.
Despite consuming a lot of chocolate, Switzerland has one of the lowest obesity rates in Europe, at only around 9%. This is attributed to their preference for pure chocolate rather than adding milk sugar or sweeteners to it.
Spain: Diet and Sleeping Habits
1. The purest Mediterranean diet
This diet promotes the consumption of seasonal fresh fruits, vegetables, and local foods.
In Spain, the average life expectancy in 2018 was 83.1 years, with men living to 80.3 years and women to 85.7 years. The primary reason for this high life expectancy is the diet of the Spanish people, who adhere to the traditional Mediterranean diet.
The Mediterranean diet generally refers to the eating habits of Southern European countries along the Mediterranean Sea, such as Greece, Italy, and Spain. The principles of this diet promote the consumption of seasonal fresh fruits, vegetables, and local foods.
Rich in olive oil, fish, and vegetables, the Mediterranean diet has been proven to reduce the risk of heart disease and high cholesterol.
2. Spaniards take siestas
Spaniards also maintain regular siesta habits.
Spaniards also keep the tradition of taking siestas, with local shops and offices closing from 2 PM to 5 PM so people can rest and have meals with their families.
The city of Aldo in the Valencia province of Spain has officially declared that citizens must rest for 3 hours from 2 PM to 5 PM each day, with parents prohibited from letting children go outside and from making noise in the streets and communities that disturb residents.
Taking a daily nap is indeed one of the best ways to recharge your health.
