Although we have known for a long time that the inhabitants of Okinawa have a healthy and frugal diet, we did not know, however, of their penchant for a strange purple vegetable, rich in antioxidants… Decryption.
Japan, an example of longevity
The inhabitants of the island of Okinawa are known for their exceptional life expectancy: at the last census, 15 of Ogimi’s 3,000 villagers were centenarians and 171 of them were over 90 years old. An extremely high statistic unlike our European averages.
In the Netflix series “100 years of plenitude, the secret of the blue zones”, researcher Dan Buettner is interested in the factors that can explain this exceptional longevity. And food has nothing to do with it. One ingredient, in particular, stands out for its exceptional benefits.
“On the island of Okinawa, this tuber vegetable represents 70% of daily food intake, which is enormous.“, specifies the expert.”If the Japanese consume so much, it is because this herbaceous plant resists typhoons, these tubers remaining protected from bad weather underground..”
Beni-imo, a superfood with antioxidant power
This vegetable is the Okinawan purple sweet potato, also called “beni imo”. Officially recognized as a “superfood”, it owes its purple color to a high concentration of anthocyanins, pigments also present in blueberries and red cabbage.
From a health point of view, these anthocyanins act as powerful antioxidants, neutralizing free radicals and reducing the risk of diseases linked to cellular aging (cardiovascular, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, cancers, etc.).
Fact confirmed by our dietitian-nutritionist: “A diet rich in antioxidants limits cardiovascular risk as well as the risk of developing certain cancers“, reveals Alexandra Murcier.
Beni imo is also rich in fiber, as well as vitamins and minerals. It is low in calories and has a moderate glycemic index.
“This type of sweet potato has a lower glycemic index than potatoes or processed foods such as white pasta used in Western diets. This helps limit weight gain, a factor in lowering life expectancy, because being overweight increases the risk of diabetes, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular problems. underlines the expert.
Fun detail: in Okinawa the inhabitants eat beni imo in all its forms. For example, in the village of Yomitan, purple sweet potatoes are available in the form of desserts, cheesecakes and purple brownies. Enough to increase your vegetable consumption!
And in France? How do you prepare beni imo?
In France, this health food – which can be found in certain specialized stores, Asian or organic grocery stores – is usually prepared in the oven or by steam. It can also be mixed into juices. This being said, Alexandra Murcier would like to emphasize that this is not a “miracle” food.
“It is rather the overall diet of the Japanese which is interesting for longevity: few processed products, little red meat and on the contrary a diet rich in fish and fruits and vegetables”, she concludes.