Vocabulary

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Video

 

 
 
 
 

Transcript

 

Here we are in Naha’s local market, where we have a plan to meet with Dr. Craig Wilcox, one of the world’s top experts on the Okinawan diet. He’s going to show us how to eat better to live longer. Let’s go!

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Dan Buettner, Host: So, Craig, just walk us through this diet.

Dr. Craig Wilcox: Oh yes, the Okinawan diet is a plant-based diet, which is very healthy. But you still need a little protein in the diet. Okinawans used to get it maybe about once or twice a month from pork.

Dan Buettner, Host: Alright, he wants a kiss.

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Dan Beutner, Host: What do they say about pickles?

Dr. Wilcox: Well, they’re tasty, but they’re very high in salt content, so keep them to a minimum.

Host: Oh! Here’s a longevity gem — spam! Is this any good for you?

Dr. Wilcox: Well, this represents the post-war American food culture coming to Okinawa . . . so I’d avoid it.

Host: How does fish figure into longevity? If I eat fish, am I going to live longer?

Dr. Wilcox: Well, the American Heart Association recommends it for its omega-3 fatty acids. It’s heart-healthy.

Dr. Craig Wilcox: “Tuna! This looks like a baseball bat! You could bash your head in with this . . . Ouch! It’s actually fish, dried bonito tuna; loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, but it’s hard as a rock.

Try that Dan.”

Dan Buettner, Host: “It’s just a hollow sound.”

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Host: God, this is ugliest vegetable I’ve ever seen! It looks like a cucumber with warts! Why would you eat something like this?

Dr. Wilcox: Well, it’s loaded with vitamin C, and it can also lower your blood sugar levels, and also found in one study to be a fat burner.

Dr. Craig Wilcox: Green leafy vegetables, loaded with calcium and high in antioxidants.

Sweet potato, the Okinawan staple, loaded with calcium, vitamin E, and beta-carotene.

Turmeric, nature’s aspirin! It also helps clean out your liver.

Okinawan papaya aids digestion and helps with the production of mother’s milk.

Bring down you blood pressure, too.

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Dan Buettner, Host: Here we are, Craig. It all comes together at the lunch table. What do we have here?

Dr. Wilcox: Okay, here we have goya — super high in vitamin C, and it also helps lower blood sugar levels in the body.

Here, we have tofu champuru. Tofu has been shown to have cholesterol-lowering effects as well as bone-strengthening benefits.

These are Okinawan greens, loaded with antioxidants.

To go with that, we’ve got a little bit of miso soup, made from soybean paste— very tasty, and full of the benefits of soy.

To spice it up, we have some Okinawan hot peppers, which can speed up your metabolism. You just might burn a little more fat that way.

Compared to a hamburger, what’s the difference, we’ve got three to four times the volume, probably ten times the nutrients, and maybe half the calories.

So, I’d say you’re getting a much healthier meal, you’re feeling fuller, and you’re quite possibly living longer because of this.

Dan Buettner, Host: Perfect! Let’s eat!

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Questions

 

Kale, Spinach, Dandelion. Dan Buettner, the presenter, explained everything about Okinawan food. True or false? Were they in a local’s garden?

Parsley, Dill. Do Okinawans eat mostly meat? Is meat the staple food of Okinawa?

Broccoli, Cauliflower. Is span a traditional Okinawan food?

Cabbage, Brussels Sprouts. Is fish bad for you health? Is fish unhealthy?

Tomatoes, Peppers. “It’s just a hollow sound.” What does this mean?

Onions, Garlic, Leeks, Chives. The goya, or bitter melon, or “cucumber with warts” is unhealthy. Is this right or wrong?

Zucchini. What does Dr. Craig Wilcox say about leafy green vegetables, turmeric and sweet potatoes?

Squash, Pumpkin. Did they buy vegetables, bring them home, cook, and prepare a meal? What other foods did Dr. Wilcox mention?
 
 
 
Turnips, Parsnips, Radish, Carrots. Are there places in your town, city, region or country were many people live long, healthy lives?

Sweet Potato. What are considered healthy foods?

Extra-Virgin Olive Oil. Are there TV shows, books, magazines, newspaper articles that talk about health and wellness?

Walnuts, Almonds, Hazelnut. Do you know any centenarians, nonagenarians, or octogenarians?

Sunflower, Pumpkin Seeds. What might happen in the future?

Berries, Grapes, Oranges. What could or should people, governments, businesses, schools, the media do?