Tag: Longevity

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Wellness

Clinical Study Support for the Health Benefits of Fermented Foods

Natto: fermented soybeans

Fermented foods are plentiful in the Japanese diet.

Researchers at the Stanford School of Medicine have found that a 10-week diet high in fermented foods boosts microbiome diversity, lowers inflammation, and improves immune responses. (1)

Justin Sonnenburg, one of the authors, said: This is a stunning finding, it provides one of the first examples of how a simple change in diet can reproducibly remodel the microbiota across a cohort of healthy adults. (2)

Diet shapes the gut microbiome which in turn affects the immune system and overall health. Low gut-microbiome diversity has been linked to obesity and diabetes.

Fermentation is an ancient technique of preserving food, which adds nutritive value in the process, as well as allowing new flavors, textures, tastes and appearances. Implied by its roots, no chemical additives are involved.

Natto arrived in Japan during the Nara period (710-794 AD) with Buddhist priests from China. Shoyu and Miso date back to 1000 BC in China, with production knowledge arriving in Japan in around 600 AD. (3)

In addition to Natto, Shoyu and Miso, there are many other common fermented foods in Japan.

Please see the background paper linked here for more details.

References

  1. Gut-microbiota-targeted diets modulate human immune status, by Hannah C. Wastyk Gabriela K. Fragiadakis Dalia Perelman, Erica D. Sonnenburg, Christopher D. Gardner, and Justin L. Sonnenburg, July 2021
  2. Stanford School of Medicine News Center:https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2021/07/fermented-food-diet-increases-microbiome-diversity-lowers-inflammation
  3. Health Benefits of Fermented Foods and Beverages, Edited by Jyoti Prakash Tamang, 2015
Categories
Wellness

Tokyo targets sub-10µg/m3 for PM2.5 by 2030

Kiyosumi Garden, nature in central Tokyo

Relatively good air quality contributes to Japan’s longest life expectancy in the world, and Tokyo is looking to further reduce air pollutants.

Air Quality is measured across multiple pollutants, (1) with annual exposure levels to PM2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter) being the most frequently used in research studies. Tokyo is aiming to achieve by 2030 the safest PM2.5 level identified by the WHO (10µg/m3) at its 80 monitoring stations. (2)

Tokyo is tightening standards despite Japan having relatively good air quality already:

Share of population exposed to more than 15 µg/m3 PM2.5

Source: OECD (3)

The impetus is the damage to health that air pollutants cause. For example, particulate matter can affect the heart and lungs and cause serious health effects. Fine particles smaller than 10 micrometers in diameter (PM10) enter deep into the lungs, while smaller PM2.5 go beyond the lungs and into the bloodstream. (3) Research has linked air pollutants to mortality, (4) asthma, heart disease, (5) diabetes, (6) dementia, (7) and through damage to gut microbes to inflammatory bowel disease, gastrointestinal disease, (8) and potentially obesity and its associated problems.  

References

  1. Japan’s Ministry of the Environment: https://www.env.go.jp/en/air/aq/aq.html
  2. Asahi Shimbun, 28 October 2020: https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13822414
  3. OECD working paper n umber 156: Policies, regulatory framework and enforcement for air quality management: The case of Japan, by Enrico Botta, and Sho Yamasaki, March 2020 https://www.oecd.org/officialdocuments/publicdisplaydocumentpdf/?cote=ENV/WKP(2020)3&docLanguage=En
  4. Japanese Nationwide Study on the Association Between Short-term Exposure to Particulate Matter and Mortality, by Takehiro Michikawa, Kayo Ueda, Akinori Takami, Seiji Sugata, Ayako Yoshino, Hiroshi Nitta, and Shin Yamazaki, October 2018
  5. Association of PM2.5 exposure with hospitalization for cardiovascular disease in elderly individuals in Japan, by Toshiki Kaihara, Kihei Yoneyama, Michikazu Nakai, Takumi Higuma, Yoko Sumita Yoshihiro Miyamoto, Mika Watanabe, Masaki Izumo, Yuki Ishibashi, Yasuhiro Tanabe, Tomoo Harada, Satoshi Yasuda, Hisao Ogawa and Yoshihiro J. Akashi, May 2021
  6. PM2.5 and Diabetes in the Japanese Population, by Mihye Lee and Sachiko Ohde, June 2021
  7. Alzheimer’s Association International Conference,2021: https://alz.org/aaic/releases_2021/overview.asp
  8. BBC, January 2019: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190128-how-dirty-air-could-be-affecting-our-gut-health
Categories
Wellness

Longevity and Work

The choice to keep working in Japan appears to be driven by positive reasons.

Japan has the longest life expectancy in the world. (1) The life choices being made are of relevance worldwide. The Japanese are increasingly choosing work, and a government survey reveals why. (2)

Trends in Employment Rate by Age Group (%)

20102020
60-6457.171.0
65-6936.449.6
70-7422.032.5
75+8.310.4
     

Source: Cabinet Office, 2021 Report, Conceptasia, July 2021

Employment rates for those between 60 and 75 have been rising around 1% per year for the last decade. One third of 70–74-year-old Japanese are still in employment.

The Japanese government is considering changing their definition of “elderly” from 65+ to 75+.

For those working with an income, the government’s survey had six categories as to why:

A: Because I want income. B: Because work itself is interesting and I can utilize my knowledge and abilities. C: Because I make friends through my work. D: Because working is good for my health and prevents aging. E: Others. F: Unknown/No answer.

Reason for Working by Age, Reason definitions above (%)

Reason60-6465-6970-7475+
A65.148.239.829.9
B21.122.725.332.8
C05.54.81.5
D10.119.127.726.9
E3.73.62.46.0
F00.903.0
     

Source: Cabinet Office, 2020 Report, Conceptasia, July 2021

The importance of income declines with age group (row A in the table above).

For the third of 70-74 year old Japanese still working, for interest (B) and health (D) reasons make up 53% of the replies.

References

  1. Please see chapter two of our book: J-Wellness 2020, The economics, career options, and investment opportunities, published August 2020.
  2. Annual Report on the Aging Society, released by Japan’s Cabinet Office. English language summary reports: https://www8.cao.go.jp/kourei/english/annualreport/index-wh.html
Categories
Wellness

Ikigai, Longevity & Hobbies

Ikigai increases longevity, hobbies even more so.

Ikigai, having a purpose in life, an age-old Japanese ideology, rose to global prominence with the international bestseller “Ikigai – The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life” by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles, published in 2016, English translation published in 2017. Ikigai Google searches (topic and search terms) have continued to rise since 2016 (source: trends.google.com).

The academic support (1) for Ikigai leading to a longer life, found that the mortality rate per 100 person-years was significantly reduced for those identifying as having a purpose in life (table below).

 Study deathsPerson-yearsMortality rate
Neither83782.010.61
Ikigai only561025.95.46
Hobbies only18469.83.83
Both914184.72.17

The mortality rate was reduced even more for those with both Ikigai and hobbies. Interestingly, the mortality rate was lower for those with hobbies only versus ikigai only. The authors discussed possible explanations, with hobbies perhaps strengthening neural networks, and/or being the cause of physical activity, a higher quality of life etc.

One potential positive byproduct of the Covid-19 related lockdowns is people taking up new hobbies.

If so, the more the better.

A follow-up study to the one above, (2) found a “10% lower risk of death for 2 hobbies and 31% lower risk for 5 hobbies compared to zero hobbies”. Especially effective were hobbies that involved physical activity and/or social interaction.

Japan began a hiking boom in 2010, (3) which now is broadening into increased camping activity. (4)

Even stuck indoors looking at the walls presents something to draw – though it is better to ramble into the woods, draw, and chat to passersby.

References:

  1. Relationship of having hobbies and a purpose in life with mortality, activities of daily living, and instrumental activities of daily living among community-dwelling elderly adults, by Kimiko Tomioka, Norio Kurumatani, and Hiroshi Hosoi, March 5, 2016
  2. https://www.jages.net/library/pressrelease/?action=cabinet_action_main_download&block_id=4030&room_id=549&cabinet_id=253&file_id=9296&upload_id=11909
  3. Trends in Japan 2010: Yama boom, Japan Times, 20 December 2010
  4. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/bizstream/20210410/2074099/
Categories
Wellness

Wellness Trends: from 2020 to 2021

Praying for a good year

It is time to bid farewell to the trends of 2020 and welcome the 2021 trends.

Introducing the Global Wellness Trends Report: The Future of Wellness 2021, Susie Ellis, Chair and CEO and Nancy Davis, Chief Creative Officer & Executive Director stated:

The 2021 GWS Trends Report captures the nature of the paradigm shift caused by COVID-19 and the myriad ways in which wellness has taken hold…. Wellness has gone from being a nice to have to a must-have for all.

Trend
1 Hollywood and the Entertainment Industries Jump into Wellness
Move over purists; big media means wellness for all
2 The Future of Immune Health: Stop Boosting, Start Balancing
Say goodbye to pop-it, guzzle-it supplements and hello to evidence-backed immune health
3 Spiritual and Numinous Moments in Architecture
The move from ostentatious fads to architecture that touches our souls
4 Just Breathe!
Breath goes from woo-woo wellness to a powerful health tool
5 The Self-Care Renaissance
Where wellness and healthcare converge
6 Adding Color to Wellness
Moving from optics to substance
7 Resetting Events with Wellness
You may never sit on a banquet chair again
8 Money Out Loud
Financial wellness is finding its voice
9 2021: The Year of the Travel Reset
From manic getaways to slower, more mindful travel
Source: 2021 Wellness Trends, from Global Wellness Summit, Conceptasia, January 2021

Beth McGroarty, VP Research & Forecasting notes:

Wellness today is at a watershed moment. The trends report reflects how wellness is poised to take a bigger seat at the health care table (see “The Self-Care Revolution” trend).

It predicts a future industry that will be more inclusive, accessible, and affordable (see the “Adding Color to Wellness,” “The Entertainment Industry Jumps into Wellness,” and “Just Breathe!” trends). How it will basically “get real” and more evidence-based (see “The Future of Immune Health: Stop Boosting, Start Balancing”)—and tackle tougher, more crucial human pain-points (see” “Money Out Loud: Financial Wellness Is Finding Its Voice”).

And the report also predicts how wellness will continue to rewrite vast industries, from travel, to architecture and design, to the meetings industry.

For those looking for a simple metric to monitor progress, this author would recommend the life expectancy for the country, society.

For more on this last point, please see our 8-page PDF article:

https://wellnessasianopportunities.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Wellness-Trends.pdf