Okinawa, Japan’s southernmost prefecture, is famous for the longevity of its residents and the low incidence of age-related diseases. The main reason for this is thought to be local nutrition. According to the study, the Okinawan diet is characterized by low calorie content and high nutritional value. It is rich in phytonutrients, including antioxidants and flavonoids, which have powerful anti-inflammatory effects and may reduce the risk of a number of diseases, including cardiovascular disease and some cancers.

Research shows that diets that reduce chronic disease risk are similar to the traditional Okinawan diet, which includes plenty of vegetables and fruits and limited amounts of meat, saturated fat, sugar, salt and full-fat dairy products.

“The low levels of saturated fat, high antioxidant content, and low glycemic load in these diets likely contribute to the reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, some cancers, and oxidative stress,” the study stated.

The study’s authors concluded that Okinawans’ low-calorie diet may have been an important factor in their longevity. They analyzed archival data on the health of Okinawa residents (aged 65 and older) over six decades to examine the impact of limiting the amount of calories in the daily diet.

The results showed that lower calorie intake was associated with less weight gain with age, a lower body mass index (BMI) over life, and a reduced risk of death from age-related diseases. Source