Nutrition, Diet, and Anti-aging: The Reality of Anti-aging Menus

Kyoto Prefecture has regional characteristics in population dynamics, with the aging rate increasing as you move north from the southern part of the prefecture. The northernmost region of Kyoto Prefecture, the Kyotango area (Kyotango City, Miyazu City, Yosano Town, Ine Town), has become a super-aged region with an aging rate of 37.6% (as of March 2020, according to the Basic Resident Register). Given that the aging rate in Kyoto City during the same period is reported to be 26.5%, the Kyotango region is notably aging. However, this region is also known for its longevity, having produced Jiroemon Kimura, who is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s oldest man (he died on June 12, 2013, at the age of 116). In fact, in Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture, the number of elderly people over 100 years old (centenarians) per 100,000 population is 160, nearly three times the national average, making it one of Japan’s leading longevity regions. Therefore, in 2017, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine established the Longevity and Regional Epidemiology Course (led by Professor Seimei Matoba) and began research to uncover the secrets of healthy longevity in this region. So far, it has been revealed that in this region, the incidence of colon cancer is low, the onset rate of dementia is low, there are many people with young vascular age, and the frequency of sarcopenia onset is low. In the analysis of intestinal bacteria, many butyric acid-producing bacteria are detected, which is a characteristic feature. It is believed that the food culture rooted in this region plays an important role in this longevity, and the traditional Japanese food culture that is being inherited is attracting attention as a potential source of healthy longevity. Therefore, in this section, I would like to introduce the food culture in this region as an anti-aging menu. In a dietary survey in this region, it was interesting to find that a higher proportion of elderly people in Kyotango City consume food ingredients rich in dietary fiber, such as whole grains, seaweeds, vegetables, and beans, every day compared to urban elderly residents (Fig. 98.1) [1]. In a dietary lifestyle survey conducted earlier, it was revealed that they consume a variety of beans from childhood, consume seaweeds in various cooking methods, consume a lot of wild vegetables, consume a lot of seeds (especially sesame), and use dried sardines in almost all dishes. These unique local foods are being eaten against this background and are still being passed down (Fig. 98.2). Interestingly, when checking the protein intake status of centenarians in this region, it is characteristic that they have been consuming a lot of protein from fish and beans continuously from childhood (Fig. 98.3). It is inferred that the health and longevity of the region are maintained by the local food culture. For more details, please refer to the examples listed in “Living Now - The Recipe for a Long Life in Kyotango” (4th Edition) (Produced by the Health Promotion Division of the Health and Longevity Welfare Department of Kyotango City, 2022). If you are interested, please read it (Fig. 98.4).