Tuesday Tips #63: Aging Backwards the Japanese Way

There are now more than 36,000 centenarians, or people 100 years or older, in Japan - a record number and more than 4,000 than last year's figure, according to the Health and Welfare Ministry. Japan has one of the longest life expectancies. The UN projects there will be nearly one million people over 100 years old in Japan by 2050, with women making up the majority. In fact, of the country's current centenarians, 86 percent are women. According to experts, their healthy diet and extremely active lifestyle are two factors that contribute to their longevity.

The Japanese Path to Aging Backwards

1) Lots of seafood. The very high intake of fresh fish may explain the lower rate of coronary artery disease in Japan. Omega-3 fatty acids from the oils in the fish play a crucial role in brain healthy and normal growth and development. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential to human health, but they must be obtained from food because the human body does not manufacture them.

2) The astaxanthin secret. Astaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant, occurring naturally in micro algae, salmon, shrimp and trout, to name just a few. Astaxanthin has been show to exhibit antioxidant properties superior to beta-carotene in certain studies. Astaxanthin helps guard against the effects of excessive free radicals and is active in many parts of the body, particularly in skeletal and smooth muscles and in the eyes. Astavita AstaREAL Astaxanthin is a natural carotenoid pigment harvested from the freshwater micro algae Haematococcus pluvialis, which contains the highest concentration of astaxanthin in the world. All Astavita products contain astaxanthin grown in a patented enclosed BioDome system in Maui, Hawaii, or photo bioreactors in Gustavsberg, Sweden. This patented process protects algae from environmental pollutants, assuring absolute purity, and provides a climate-controlled system that regulates light, temperature and water to get the highest and most consistent astaxathin yield possible. Clinical Studies on the health benefits of natural astaxanthin have indicated an increase in physical endurance, muscle recovery time, reduction of inflammation and eye fatigue, cardiovascular, diabetic support and skin health.

3) Aging Backwards from the inside, out. Another Astavita product containing astaxanthin, Skin Defense Complex is a proprietary formula first developed and used in Japan as internal nutritional support for skin health. It is designed to protect skin from free radicals and includes AstaREAL astaxanthin as well as tocotrienol. Free radicals in the body are caused by UV radiation, cigarette smoke, air pollution and even stress. They can destroy cell membranes and DNA, and they can damage healthy skin cells. Antioxidants are the best defense against these free radicals because they boost the body's ability to fight the free radicals and prevent their damage. Taking Skin Defense Complex helps protect the natural beauty of the skin, preventing the damage while repairing it.

4) The "bird poop" facial. The Geisha Facial being offered at the New York City salon, Shizuka, originated in Japan and contains nightingale excrement. If you're a bit of a "germ freak" like me, you'll be happy to know that the Japanese manufacturers treat the powder with ultraviolet light to kill bacteria. It's then mixed with a finely milled rice brain and made into a mask to brighten the skin and achieve that trademark "porcelain" quality. Shizuka owner Shizuka Bernstein said, "I'm always trying to bring Japanese culture and tradition to my spa. I heard my mother talk about this treatment when I was a little girl."

5) Ten-minute exercise. Watch a video HERE of the ten-minute workout. A store in Japan has the machines set up so shoppers can stop in and get their workout done in 10 minutes. It's the V-Balance, an exercise machine with high-speed vibration that shapes your entire body using different postures such as standing upright, bending your knees or holding the steps.

There are many anti-aging secrets to be learned from other cultures. We're fortunate to have today's technology to help make the world a much smaller place and bring us all together.