This book was a very interesting read. Very detailed about different foods and their affects and role within the Okinawa Diet. I enjoyed learning about the history between Okinawa, Japan, and China, and how these connections influenced the island's food and lifestyle. I've always wondered how Okinawa had so many people living for over 100 years, and this book explains it well. Recommend for anyone interested in being healthier, or just interested in knowing more about Okinawa. ( )

Not your regular diet book! The book is a great combination of a historical read plus something which you can incorporate into your daily diet. It is so fascinating to think of the times where a simple and healthy lifestyle helped people lead a fulfilling life up to 100 years of age and beyond. This book takes you into that era. When you see this book on the shelf, you might assume it to be another Japanese diet book with recipes of foods and beverages that can help you maintain a balanced lifestyle. Much to my surprise, the book has a rather refreshing take on diet. It indicates that all the elements in nature and the senses we experience are also part of something that we consume and this is intertwined with the foods we consume. An optimum balance of these elements is the key to a much-desired longevity.

We are then given an array of foods with the elements that they are associated with and their benefits for our body. One can be surprised to see this correlation between nature with food and how it can affect your body. This book shows a different perspective of having a balanced and satisfactory lifestyle. Instead of a percentage proportion of carbohydrates, proteins or fats as you would generally expect, it takes you through the Japanese secret of finding the origin of all that we consume through elements of nature and how keeping a balance of it can do wonders for your body and mind. Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates how nature remains so closely tied with us forever. An absolutely interesting and refreshing read. ( )