Just how big a part genetics plays in all this is open to debate. While there are several genes clearly associated with premature or delayed aging, lifestyle still acts on these genes. According to the researchers, everything. Not that Okinawans drink much. Nor do they eat much, averaging 500 fewer calories a day than Americans.
Personality plays a part, too.
Rarely do they feel rushed, and that laid-back attitude goes a long way toward minimizing stress. In Okinawa, dancing breaks out spontaneously - not only at parties, but at the end of a long work day. Since embarking on the study seven years ago, Willcox says he's incorporated a little bit of Okinawa into his own life. I've also become more relaxed . . .