What's the Secret to a Long Life? Ask Hispanic and Asian Americans.
A woman works in a market in Oaxaca, Mexico. Photo: Hendrik Terbeck
For Hispanics, Family Connections Are Key to a Long Life
By EMILY BRAVO and JONATHAN ALVAREZ
What’s the key to living a long, happy life? It’s a question we’d all like the answer to. One good place to start asking is in the Latino community.
Despite being poorer overall than most Americans, Latinos actually live four years longer than the national average. In no state do Latinos have well-being levels above those of white Americans, but while average life expectancy for whites is 79, it’s 83 for Latinos, according to the Population Reference Bureau (PRB). Demographers call this the “Hispanic Health Paradox,” and it has been puzzling them for quite some time. Despite having harsher jobs, less education, and less health insurance, Latinos still outlive most other groups in America. What’s their secret?
One important factor may be family support and positive expectations.
Lizett Perez, a senior sociology major at Lehman College, said, “As a first generation college student, my family most definitely expects great things from me. I have learned and experienced how hard my parents worked in order for me to be where I am and where my end goal should be. This ‘rule’ my parents have inflicted on me helps me stay on track and never give up.”
Having relationships with family and friends can help improve feelings of comfort and sharpen memories. The Chicago Hispanic Health Coalition (CHHC) says the high levels of social support among Hispanic families has an important impact. “They retain sympathy, kindness, harmonic relations, and collectivism,” the organization says, “all which have been linked to favor greater physical and mental well-being and lower mortality.”
Junior Daniela Moran said, “I have a pretty good relationship with my family. We’re very close in the sense that we tell each other a lot of things and we’re very open with each other.”
Respect is the most important value in Hispanic culture, interviewees told us. Children are taught to behave and act respectfully. Parents feel they have succeeded when their child has manners and shows respect towards older people. This kindness goes both ways.
Moran said, “My family is there when I need them. We’re there for each other anytime a family member is in a difficult situation. We help each other with the little things, and we’re very comfortable knowing that if we call one another we know they’ll pick up.” Healthy family relations result in healthier hearts, both figuratively and literally, studies have shown.
Of course, life expectancy also depends on living conditions. People die earlier in many countries due to starvation and poor health care facilities. While the Hispanic American community tends to be lacking in health care service due to income and language barriers, it looks like a solid diet counteracts this limitation.
According to a study published in The British Medical Journal, eating “super foods” daily, such as dark chocolate, fruits, vegetables, garlic, fish, and nuts, reduces heart disease risk by 75% and adds an average of six years to a person’s life.
A traditional Hispanic diet includes many of these, as well as plenty of grains and legumes such as beans, which are also shown to lower the risk of heart disease, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.
Sophomore Maile Veliz said of the Latino community, “We all sure love to eat well. It’s hard to say what our favorite food is. All I can say is that tamales are the best.”
Latinos are 35% less likely to have heart diseases than whites. They are also 49% less likely to have cancer, and 14% less likely to smoke, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Could “toughness” brought on by adversity also play a role? As a group, Hispanics are more likely to live in poverty. They are often paid minimum wage and face difficult living conditions. In Latin America, 21% of countries fall into the highest childhood food insecurity rates. Over four million children live with undocumented parents in America, and they are twice as likely to live in poverty and hunger.
Alexandria Lyras ’21 was not surprised by the Hispanic longevity paradox. “I believe that minorities have learned to adapt to tougher situations,” she said, “which means they have a longer life expectancy.”
Luisa Dominguez ‘21 wasn’t surprised either. “Hispanic immigrants tend to be happier,” she said. And as studies have shown, a happier life becomes a longer life.
Asian Americans’ Healthy Diets Are a Big Factor in Their Longevity
By LISA FARLEY
Pop quiz! Which place in the world has the highest life expectancy? 3….2….1…. If you guessed the United States, you are wrong! The correct answer is Hong Kong, with Japan coming in second and Macao in 3rd, according to Worldometer. Hong Kong, Japan, and Macao all have something in common: they are located in Asia. And while the United States ranked 46th out of all countries, which may be a shock to some, Asian Americans live to over 86 on average, almost eight years longer than the typical American. Why is that?
There is a quote by Hippocrates that says “May your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food,” and the Asian diet is the epitome of this saying. Although this cuisine obviously varies from country to country, there are several general trends.
Asian Americans rank first in the country in life expectancy. Source: The Measure of America.
“Fruits, vegetables, water, and protein, especially chicken and fish” are at the core of Asian eating, Ivy Tran ‘21 said. ”My family, especially my dad, has a clean palette, so they try to avoid greasy food. They try to incorporate veggies in almost all our meals and eat fruit every day. Additionally, they avoid eating takeout and fast food.”
When following the “Asian Diet Pyramid,” according to Oldways, a nonprofit, red meats and sweets should be eaten very infrequently. Eggs, poultry, healthy cooking oils, and yogurt should be eaten in moderate amounts daily to weekly. Fish and shellfish should be consumed often, at least twice a week. Lastly, tea and water should be consumed daily, and every meal should be based on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, soy foods, herbs, and spices.
The Asian Diet pyramid is vastly different from the initial food pyramid that was curated by The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Asian Diet Pyramid tells you how often to eat a certain food, while the United States’s original pyramid told you how many servings to eat, which can be unhelpful because some people tend to eat servings that are too big.
The USDA’s pyramid has changed over the years, but most Americans are still eating double and triple the amounts recommended. The Asian diet, on the other hand, follows the concept of “conscious eating.” Hara hachi bun me is a Confucian teaching that Asians tend to follow that says to “eat until you’re 80% full,” because it takes the brain a bit longer to recognize that you are full. Asian teachings also emphasize that when you’re eating food, it should be truly savored and eaten slowly. By doing this, it is said to allow the body to accurately respond to the indication of fullness.
Sevinch Khamrokulova ‘24 was not surprised to learn that Asian Americans live longer.
Source: Oldways, a food and nutrition nonprofit in Boston, MA.
“Asians take better care of themselves,” Khamrokulova said. “In the U.S., we consume too much salt, fat, sugar, and calories and too little nutrients from fresh whole fruits and vegetables. For example, Korean dishes are healthier than other types of cuisines because they use less fat and oil.”
Whitney Leung ‘23 agreed that Asian food is healthier and added that Asian Americans also “meditate and exercise a lot.”
It seems that exercising and social interaction also plays a role in extending the lives of older Asian Americans.
“Some of the habits that I notice my parents engaging in that could contribute to good health or long life are taking walks around our neighborhood and watching their favorite movies together,” Emily Chu ‘22 said.
Coco Xie ‘22 said, “I notice that Chinese culture in my family is very important. From traditional calligraphy to architecture and cuisine, my family is very involved.”
Continuing traditions is a big part of the Asian community and connects young Asian Americans to their parents, grandparents, and even great grandparents.
“I tend to drink boiled water,” Xie said, which is something she learned from her parents and grandparents. “Sometimes I use rice water to wash my hair, which makes it silky and smooth,” she added.
So if you’re looking to live a long, healthy life -- and who isn’t? -- take a look at the Asian Diet Pyramid, take some time to learn from your elders, and remember: Hara hachi bun me!