Is this ‘immortal island’ secret to EXTENDING lifespan the ‘Japanese paradox’?
Ever notice how some folks age more gracefully than others?
They don’t just live LONGER… but live BETTER!
Some of the longest-living seniors on the planet live in areas known as “Blue Zones”…
And one of the most INFAMOUS Blue Zones is the Japanese island of Okinawa, known to some as the “land of immortals.”
Now, there are many lifestyle factors that contribute to these islanders’ incredible longevity… including embracing a strong social network…
But Okinawans are best known for their diet.
And there’s one secret of the Okinawan diet that could help contribute to a long, healthy life because of its ability to keep stomach cancer at bay!
Here’s what scientists have discovered… and how you can incorporate this routine into your daily life.
Are you unknowingly BOMBING your belly?
You might see headlines that say that part of the Okinawan secret to PROLONGING life is by SKIPPING salt.
You see, excess salt consumption has been associated with a higher incidence of stomach cancer…
And this type of cancer does have a disproportionately high percentage of deaths, compared to its percentage of new cases.
Stomach (or “gastric”) cancer is one of the top causes of cancer death worldwide…
And if it’s spread to distant areas of the body… like the liver… the 5-year relative survival rate is only 5%.
The theory is that eating too much salt can damage your stomach lining…
And H. pylori is a strain of bacteria that’s widely considered a MAJOR cause of stomach cancer.
But the answer isn’t quite as simple as throwing your salt shaker in the garbage.
Because a sprinkle of high-quality, mineral-rich sea salt on top of a freshly-made dish can be quite healthy… and even nutritious!
As they say, the devil’s in the detail.
The evidence behind this cancer link points to foods with already-high sodium content…
Including processed and prepackaged meats and fish, like bacon… hot dogs… bologna… and more.
Then there are the buns and breads we put those on, which are also a HUGE source of dietary sodium – even though they might not TASTE salty!
The traditional Okinawan diet OMITS the processed foods more typically associated with the “Western” diet…
But it’s not MISSING salt altogether.
Okinawans rub salt on their fish, freshly caught from ocean waters… and dress their foods with a few drops of sodium-rich soy sauce.
The key is that a little goes a LONG way…
And Okinawans eat far less salt than the rest of Japan does.
Perhaps more importantly, the people of Okinawa tend to eat less than most other cultures do – especially Western cultures.
That’s because instead of FEASTING until they have to let out their belts by a notch… they STOP eating when they’re 80% full!
The takeaway here is that you can ENJOY some salt… as long as you CONTROL your intake.
When you gobble down on fast food… frozen dinners… and even restaurant-prepared meals…
You’ve got NO IDEA how much salt they could be DUMPING into your dishes.
And your taste buds could be none the wiser, too.
Opt for fresh foods… and dishes made from scratch…
And when you go for a dash of salt, make sure it’s MINIMALLY refined or processed… like pink Himalayan salt…
And comes in larger flakes or crystals that you can see… and really TASTE.
To not PURGING a tasty pinch,
Melissa Young
P.S. As I shared with you last week, MINIMIZING your salt consumption… like when you follow the DASH diet… could help keep CRIPPING pain at bay. Here’s how.
