08 新书解释冲绳人长寿的秘密New Book Explains the Secrets of 1)Okinawan2)LongevityAmy Bickers3)Tokyo15 Jun 2001 08:03 UTCThe Okinawa islands in Southern Japan are home to the world's greatest number of 4)centenarians, people more than a hundred years old. If you would like to know the secrets to their longevity, a new book not only explains it, but also looks at how people everywhere can live long, productive lives.The Japanese 5)archipelago of Okinawa, southwest of Tokyo, is known to people around the world as the site of one of the 6)fiercest battles of World War II. But within Japan, Okinawa is well known for a happier phenomenon: the7)unrivalled longevity of its residents. Okinawans have the longest life8)expectancy on the planet. The islands are home to more than 400 centenarians, many of them still 9)gardening, exercising and fully 10)participating in community life.Twenty-five years ago, a group of scientists undertook a government-11)sponsored study to find out not only why Okinawans live so long, but why they also look younger than their age.The answers are in a new book called the Okinawa Program. The scientists say Okinawan longevity has little to do with 12)genetics and has everything to do with lifestyle choices.Craig Willcox co-authored the Okinawa Program. He says nearly everyone can benefit from practicing good habits common among many older Okinawans, particularly when it comes to food. "If we look at the diet, it has got a very good balance, including an 13)appropriately small amount of meat. It is also very high in 14)tofu," he says. "It is a diet high in 15)Omega-3 16)fatty17)acids, which are heart healthy. There are a lot of vegetables in the diet, very high amounts of green and yellow vegetables, and a small amount of salt." The book notes that older Okinawans get regular physical exercise. They garden, perform traditional dances and do 18)martial arts such as 19)karate, which was originally developed in Okinawa.Twenty-five years of research also shows that cultivating a positive mental outlook and developing inner peace are also important. Mr. Willcox says older Okinawans stay vital in part because they are 20)revered by and active in their community. "A lot of the elderly they) live in rural areas," he says. "We found very high levels of social interaction, particularly among older women. Thereis a lot of visiting going on every day and neighbors are like family in Okinawan villages."Mr. Willcox notes that 21)spirituality and the strong positive role of women may also be key factors in promoting longevity. "What we found is that women are the spiritual leaders in Okinawan society," he says. "You do not see this elsewhere, whereas in Okinawa, women are the publicly acknowledged leaders of society. We think that this gives particularly women an edge in the longevity game."But Okinawa's unique place as longevity capital of the world is in22)jeopardy. Younger Okinawans have moved away from the life-preserving habits of their elders and towards a more 23)Westernized way of life. They are less physically active and their diets are not as healthy.Doctor Makoto Suzuki played a leading role in the Okinawan centenarian study. He notes that today, younger Okinawans tend to be heavier and have a higherrisk for heart disease than other Japanese. He says that many younger people eat in Western fast food restaurants and get little exercise. He adds that the death rate for people under 55 is increasing, a trend he hopes can be24)reversed.The Okinawa Program 25)reaffirms that there are no quick 26)fixes or special secrets to living a longer, healthier life. The key is to get into the habit of getting regular exercise, eating well, staying positive, and sticking to it.注释：(1) Okinawa [ ☜◆♓⏹♦☜ ] n.冲绳(群岛) ,冲绳(岛)[日本](2) longevity [ ●⏹♎✞♏♓♦♓ ] n.长命, 寿命，供职期限，资历(3) Tokyo [ ♦☜◆☜◆ ] n.东京(日本首都)(4) centenarian [ ♦♏⏹♦♓⏹☪☜❒♓☜⏹ ] n.百岁或百岁以上的人adj.百岁或百岁以上的(5) archipelago [ ♓☐♏●♓♈☜◆ ] n.群岛(6) fierce [ ♐♓☜♦ ] adj.凶猛的, 猛烈的, 热烈的, 暴躁的<美>极讨厌的, 难受的, <英方>精力旺盛的(7) unrivalled [✈⏹❒♋✋☎☜✆●♎ adj 无与伦比的；卓越的(8) expectancy ☯✋♦☐♏♦☜⏹♦✋] n.期待, 期望(9) gardening ☯♈♎⏹✋☠] n.园艺, 造园, 造园术, 园林工人的工作(10) participate [ ☐♦♓♦♓☐♏♓♦ ] vi.参与, 参加, 分享, 分担(11) sponsor [ ♦☐⏹♦☜ ] n.发起人, 主办者, 保证人, 主办人vt.发起, 主办v.赞助(12) genetics [ ♎✞♓⏹♏♦♓♦ ] n.遗传学(13) appropriate [☜☐❒☜◆☐❒♓♓♦] adj. 适合的; 适当的; 相称的appropriately adv.适当地(14) tofu [ ♦☜☺♐◆] n (Jap.) 豆腐(15) omega [ ☜◆❍♓♈☜ ] n.欧米加(希腊字母的最后一个字), 最后, 结局(16) fatty [ ♐✌♦♓ ] adj.脂肪的, 含脂肪的, 脂肪状的, [医]脂肪过多n.胖子(17) acid [ ✌♦✋♎] n.[化]酸, <俚>迷幻药adj.酸的, 讽刺的, 刻薄的(18) martial [ ❍☞☜● ] adj.战争的, 军事的, 尚武的, 威武的(19) karate [ ☜❒♦♓ ] n.[日] 空手道(日本的一种徒手自卫武术)(20) revere [ ❒♓♓☜] v.尊敬, 敬畏, 崇敬(21) spirituality [ ♦☐♓❒♓♦◆✌●♓♦♓ ] n.精神性, 灵性(22) jeopardy [ ♎✞♏☐☜♎♓ ] n.危险, 危险(23) westernize [ ♦♏♦♦☜⏹♋✋] v.使西洋化, 使欧化(24) reversed [ ❒♓☜♦♦ ] v.翻转adj.颠倒的(25) reaffirm [ ❒♓☜♐☜❍ ] vt.重申, 再肯定(26) fix [ ♐♓♦ ] vt.使固定, 装置, 修理, 准备, 安装, 凝视, 整理, 牢记vi.固定, 注视, 决定,选定, 确定n.困境, 方位, 贿赂。