From mindset to nutrition: 4 Chinese principles that can extend life to 100 years

neurocoach

There are many Chinese who live to be 100 years old. For them, this is the norm rather than something supernatural. When life has meaning, body and mind are in a harmonious and healthy state, a longer life becomes a logical extension of everything.

Asian longevity is based on achieving harmony between body and mind. Following one’s own path, physical activity, proper nutrition, balance of work and rest, and good mood – that’s how the rules of a long and healthy life look like in a nutshell.

I propose to break down the basic principles and secrets in more detail.

1. Own way of Tao

One of the reasons for Chinese longevity lies in a special religious philosophy – Taoism, which combines religion, philosophy, science, cooking and medicine.

According to Taoism, in order to find happiness, everyone must follow the Tao, that is – their own way. To do this, it is necessary to find balance and harmony in all spheres of life: physical, spiritual and material.

Since all people are different, everyone has their own way and harmony. One thing is important – the body and mind should not be overstrained and stressed. For example, if a person works productively and actively during the day, he should rest at night. If someone does the opposite and does not keep the balance, it is impossible to achieve harmony. And this is the false way of the Tao.

2. Proper nutrition

Traditional Chinese food is simple and healthy: rice, fish and seafood, chicken, turkey and vegetables. Following the principle of balance, the people of the Celestial Empire eat in moderation. It is important for them not to overeat and not to be hungry at the same time. The body should get enough nutrients without causing unnecessary strain on the digestive and cardiovascular systems.

Many Chinese do not eat fatty, smoked, salty and sweet foods, preferring light and healthy food. They drink a lot of water and tea. And not only green tea, but all kinds of herbal collections, which have a positive effect on the body, help to keep calm and harmony.

3. Physical activity

Every morning and evening millions of Chinese people go out for exercise. They practise qigong (health gymnastics) and tai chi (martial art). Essentially, this is therapeutic exercise, where there is no serious exertion. The exercises are similar to a slow dance. However, there is an important point – the work here is not only with the body, but also with the psyche.

Children are taught to lead an active lifestyle from an early age. Therefore, even elderly Chinese usually look quite energetic, and it is very rare to meet overweight people on the street.

There is a different kind of sport for each age. The young are engaged in various sections, older people go jogging. Those over 70 prefer calm and slow exercises without excessive strain. Physical activity options for Chinese long-livers are light exercise, walking, gymnastics or qigong.

4. Positive thinking

The Chinese believe that stress and nervousness cause fatigue and health problems. Calmness and good mood will help even in the most difficult situations, and an easy smile and positive attitude to life – the main components of longevity.

Most diseases develop due to psycho-emotional disorders. For example, when a person is in anger, a large number of processes occur in his body, including an increase in blood pressure.

If you suppress aggression, it will go deeper into the body, the pressure will rise, and gradually develop hypertension. That’s why you can’t put emotions inside. It is necessary to express them ecologically, i.e. without harming others and oneself. The Chinese have special physical exercises for this purpose.

The Chinese rarely get sick, as they remove all risks of illnesses in advance. They believe that there is no definite remedy for all diseases. But there is something that can prevent their appearance. First of all, they work with thoughts and carefully work through them. This prevents negativity from interfering in their lives, destroying their body and health. Because of this, they always stay positive and hardly ever get sick.

They don’t overstretch themselves by deciding to make more money. This is against their philosophy. They have competently optimized time for all areas of life: work, leisure, family, entertainment and friends. Therefore, there is enough time for everything, and life lasts a long time.

Another national feature of the Chinese is a smile. They do not part with it, even when the mood is not too good. Perhaps this is also one of the reasons for their longevity.