I'm sure you've heard stories of Asian centenarians who bounce through life with the same vitality as a thirty-something. You probably wondered what it is about the Orient that makes it a veritable fountain of youth. Is it the water? The air? The food? The lifestyle?

Actually, yes.

Take Japan for instance. Notorious for their longevity, the average life expectancy of the Japanese is 81.6 years, compared to the 77.1 years expected for Americans (and only 74.5 years for men).

It is also a known fact that cancer rates in the Orient, especially rural Japan, are much lower than in Europe or the Americas -- and genetics has little to do with it. Asians who immigrate to North America, or from the country to "Americanized" urban centers, see their cancer rates shoot up dramatically.

It's the lifestyle
Well, there is some genetics involved. For some reason that has yet to be understood, Asians are better equipped genetically to grow old; their cells contain some sort of age-delaying mechanism.

But there's good news. Genes are only a fraction of the equation. Their diet, lifestyle and medicine, though still under research, have collectively been proven to give the body the good stuff it needs to keep a 105-year-old healthy.

Food
There's a whole empire of wholesome foods from the old continent. Here are the most salient ones:

• Green & black tea: A staple of Chinese and Japanese societies, the tea made form the Camellia sinensis tea plant is rich in polyphenols, powerful antioxidants also known as catechins. More potent than other known antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, catechins help lower blood pressure, blood sugar and prevent cancers. Studies have also shown that black tea, green tea's toasted variety, boosts the body's immune system, prevents heart disease, and even wards off bad breath.
• Ginger: No self-respecting kitchen in the East will have a shortage of ginger root. In Chinese herbal medicine, it's used as a cure for colds, as a tonic for the digestive system, and for the immune system. As a tea, it quells fevers. It's also a potent anti-inflammatory.
• Fresh vegetables: There's a reason why you should have five servings of fruits and vegetables a day; most of the nutrients your body requires are found in them. In our world of quick, ready-to-eat foods, many nutrients are lost in processing; whereas Asian dishes are chock full of fresh vegetables.
• Soy: A favorite protein source of vegetarians, soy has all the essential amino acids the body needs, minus the fat found in meat. And with its power to reduce your risk of heart disease and wipe out bad cholesterol, thanks to flavonoids, it keeps your arteries clean. Soy comes in many guises, including tofu, texturized soy protein, miso, which is popular in Japanese soups, and soy milk, which is a popular substitute for dairy products.
• Seafood: The Japanese reap many benefits from their love of seafood. Some fish are rich in the omega-3 fatty acid, known to protect the heart. Case in point: Okinawans, who eat mostly salmon and tuna, have one-fifth as many heart attacks as North Americans.

Lifestyle
Besides eating well, Asians engage in activities that keep the body and mind in prime condition. Here is a sampling of popular pursuits that boost strength and reduce stress:

• Yoga: The sweeping array of benefits yoga brings about include reduced blood pressure, respiratory and cardiovascular efficiency, flexibility, strength, resilience and endurance, sleep and endocrine normalization, improved moods and self-confidence. It's even been shown to reduce cholesterol.
• Martial arts: A popular import from the Far East, martial arts have been recommended to 40- and 50-year olds as an effective workout and aging deterrent. Those who practice have less body fat, more strength and balance, and prime aerobic conditioning. It also boosts self-confidence and overall mood.
• Meditation: A mainstay of Eastern spirituality, meditation is often prescribed in North America when drugs don't work. From high blood pressure to anxiety to attention deficit disorder, training the mind to relax has shown to rewire the brain to better deal with the pitfalls of life. And better mood equals better health.
• Family values: In Asia, elders are respected and esteemed. They are major figures in a family, consulted on everything from child-rearing to farming techniques. Many Asians also work well into old age, maintaining a constant level of vigorous activity. This gives them a sense of purpose in their community, which keeps them strong and alert in their later years.
• Very little alcohol: Asian men avoid a lot of self-destructive behaviors, such as heavy drinking. Asia does have its fair share of fiery spirits, which many people enjoy daily, but we're talking one glass, max. This kind of modest drinking has been shown by the American Heart Association to be beneficial.
• Easygoing attitude: Zen teaches its adherents to keep a cool head in the face of a crisis. We see books about not sweating the small stuff, but in Asia, this is programmed into people since birth. This easygoing, positive attitude is one of the best weapons against stress, the ultimate health assailant.
• Eating Smaller portions: The Okinawans say you should eat until you're "eight parts out of 10 full." Science has shown that eating between half and three-quarters of the 2,200 recommended calories boosts health and of course, reduces overeating.

Medicine
While the world of Asian medicine remains largely unregulated, many people are turning to some of these time-tested methods as natural alternatives to Western pharmaceuticals. For instance:

• Acupuncture: Yes, the art of sticking needles into the body has shed its shadow of mysticism and is even recommended by the World Health Organization as an effective treatment for more than 100 ailments. These include back pain, asthma, constipation, and even as a cure for addictions.
• Herbal medication: There's a lot of phony witch doctoring in herbal medicine, but research on alternative medicine is picking up quickly, and the results look promising. Take artemisinin, the extract from Chinese wormwood. This little plant has become the most powerful anti-malaria drug, and may be effective against leukemia and other cancers. Volumes of plants and extracts have been used loyally over thousands of years in China, and the rest of the world is catching on. In fact, billions of dollars are spent annually on Asian medications as a complement to Western treatments.
• Treat the body as a whole: Whereas Western medicine tries to zero in on an illness, Asians see the body as an organic whole with complex interactions. For instance, a rash could mean a problem with the liver, and not just the skin. And so Eastern medicine focuses on overall maintenance, as opposed to individual ailments.
• The qi to good health: The vital energy qi (pronounced chee) is the cornerstone of Chinese medicine, the guardian against illness, the force that makes blood flow. Qi is manifested in a state of complete relaxation, such as those achieved by yoga, meditation and Tai Chi. When in balance, it raises metabolism, lowers the heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, and slows brain waves. Much of Asian medicine aims to keep qi flowing smoothly.