Tokyo Tour: Soy, Green Tea & Hare Hachi Bu. Japanese Secrets to Living Longer.

FACT: The Japanese live longer than most anyone else. According to 2007 CIA statistics, Japan placed third in life expectancy (average woman 85.56; man 78.67; behind tiny Andorra and Macau). Until August 13, 2007, it was home to Yone Minagawa, who at the ripe old age of 114, was the world's oldest person. Since this "title" began in 1955, Japan has boasted 15% of the winners.  And, the Japanese district of Okinawa has the longest average lifespan in the world and the highest percentage of centenarians ever documented from reliable records. 

WHY? The Japanese chalk it up to their diet. Our Boscia tour guide, Sun Son, who's a walking encyclopedia of interesting Japanese facts, blames Japan's admirable life expectancy on a high intake of soy products and green tea. Soy-derived foods, like miso soup, tofu, and soy milk are eaten a few times daily, while green tea is the drink of choice after meals and as a morning pick-me-up--one of Starbucks's most popular items in Japan is the Macha Latte, a blend of Macha (super-concentrated green tea powder) and frothy milk.  Soy products also contain isoflavones,  touted to help protect against breast cancer, prostate cancer, menopausal symptoms, heart disease and osteoporosis.

ALSO: Okinawans (those with the longest life-spans in Japan, mentioned above) eat up to 40 percent fewer calories than Americans and 17 percent fewer calories than the Japanese average, while still retaining adequate nutrition. Their trick is hara hachi bu, which translates to "eat until you're 80 percent full." This, combined with a traditional Japanese diet that's high in antioxidants, is responsible for their lengthy life expectancy. The population, which has been studied be researchers since 1976, live longer but more importantly, they age successfully. Most are lean, energetic and have low rate of chronic illness like heart disease and cancer. 

PROGNOSIS: To increase your odds of living longer and aging better, when it comes to you're diet, pretend you're Japanese. Trade that afternoon coffee for green tea (or invest in Dr. Brandt's Anti-Oxidant Water Boosters; 1 drop delivers the antioxidant power of 16 cups of green tea). Eat lots of soy. And say konichiwa to hara hachi bu.