Bama --The Land of Longevity

Bama (screenshot)

What is their secret to a long life?

Bama is recognized worldwide as the land of longevity located in the Bama Yao Autonomous County in Guangxi, China. As of January 2010 there were 90 centenarians living in Bama, making 36 centenarians for every 100,000 people - five times the international average.

（Bama Centenarians）

In the past decade Chinese and foreign researchers have researched the Bama residents to try to find out what makes them live longer. Aspects such as genetics, geography, climate, environment and food were studied. They found the sun, air, water, magnetic field and food to be the main contributors to their longevity. Following is what they discovered about each aspect.
 
Sun: The Bama sunlight index is special; the intensity of its infrared and ultraviolet lights are just right. The reason the elderly in Bama suffer no cardiovascular diseases has much to do with the sunlight index in that area. Studies found that Bama has different sunlight indexes in different seasons; in order to get the best impact, one must carry out outdoor activities on a specific date, at a specific time or during a specific weather conditions.
 
Air: Bama's air has a high concentration of negative oxygen ions. According to measurements, along the Bama Panyang River there are up to 20000 negative oxygen ions per cubic centimeter; in villages around the Panyang River there are up to 5000/cm3, many times higher than that of other industrial cities and rural areas. Negative ions can effectively eliminate free radicals within a human body, and at the same time maintain bodily fluids in a weak alkaline condition. As a result the body is protected against chronic diseases, especially cancer.

（Panyang River）

Water: Bama’s water is the most unique item from the area’s natural environment. The water is naturally filtered through rivers and caves and forms in hexagonal crystals under a specific magnetic field. Hexagonal water is composed of six individual water molecules, held together by common hydrogen bonds. This unique water structure enters the cells easily, so it is easily assimilated by the body’s metabolic activities helping it to stay healthy.
 
Magnetic field: Medical experts believe that the area’s geomagnetism is an important contributing factor in Bama’s longevity. The proper magnetic field can promote blood circulation, reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease, increase immunity, coordinate brain waves and improve the quality of sleep.
 
Food: The food grown in Bama provides not only the right nutrients but also beneficial lactobacillus bacteria. This is why experts from all over Asia like to obtain bacteria from Bama. The diet there is low in protein, low in fat, and low in cholesterol. People here eat two meals a day; some even eat only one meal. Most long-lived folks in Bama eat 1400-1500 calories per day. In the Bama area locally grown hemp seeds, tea, pumpkin, bamboo shoots, yellow corn, beans, potatoes and other whole grains provide organic and pollution-free green food for its residents.