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Hachijo IslandIt has been said that the residents are rarely infected with modern diseases such as cancer, irregular blood pressure, strokes, cardiac infarction, or Alzheimer disease. The lifestyle of the people has been studied extensively and some possible explanations have been found for the longevity of its residents. One possible reason is that like Okinawans in general, people in Hachijo Island may eat less calories on average. On research on Okinawans, it was found that the typical Okinawan diet consisted of about 60% of calories found in typical Japanese diet. Calorie restriction is one of the methods for life extension that has been proven in numerous animal studies, with different species, and it is widely thought that the same effects are possible on humans as well. Another reason may be on the ingredients of their diet. People on the island eat food rich in antioxidants, such as Ashitaba. Ashitaba has been called the "Treasure" and the "King of Vegetables" of the Longevity Island.
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