Bama, recognized worldwide as the land of
longevity, is 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.
In the past decade, Chinese and foreign researchers have studied
the Bama residents to try to find out what is responsible for their
longevity. Aspects such as genetics, geography, climate,
environment, and food were studied. Researchers found the sun, air,
water, magnetic field, and food to be the main contributors to
their longevity.
Research scientists have identified the water from the Panyang
River as natural alkaline ion water which is rich in minerals. No
wonder this river is also called the "river of life".
Sun. The Bama sunlight index is special. The intensity of
its infrared and ultraviolet lights is 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 effect, one must engage in
outdoor activities on a specific date, at a specific time, or
during 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 20,000 negative oxygen ions per
cubic centimeter. In villages around the Panyang River there are up
to 5,000 ions per cubic centimeter, many times higher than that of
other industrial cities and rural areas.
Negative ions can effectively eliminate free radicals within a
human body and maintain body fluids in a weak
alkaline condition. As a result, the body is
protected against chronic diseases, especially cancer.
Water. Bama’s water is unique. 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 enters the cells easily, enabling
healthy metabolic activities.
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, fat, and cholesterol. People eat
two meals a day. Some even eat only one meal a day. Most long-lived
folks in Bama eat 1,400 to 1,500 calories per day.
In the Bama area, locally grown hemp seeds, tea, pumpkin, bamboo
shoots, yellow corn, beans, potatoes, and whole grains provide
organic and pollution-free green food for its residents.
Many scientists have visited over the years to try to find the
answer but this is the local people’s discoveries and conclusions.
Bama and its villages are in remote a area with few factories or
pollution.
The river flows through a
karst landscape and therefore the water is rich in calcium
carbonate and as a PH value of between 7.2 and 8.5. Weak alkaline
ionized water can help maintain the acid-base balance of blood and
bodily fluids makes the body more effective in resisting bacteria,
viruses, inflammation and disease.
Many people come here to collect the spring water. The air in the
area is clean. The negative oxygen ions are per 3000 cubic
centimeter along the river side which is 10 times the average value
in big cities.
The earth’s magnetism is 0.58 gauss which is twice the ordinary
value. It is believed that an appropriate geomagnetic environment
is will good for blood circulation and encourages a low rate of
cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease and the electromagnetic
waves bring a better quality of sleep.
The people of the area do mostly labor intensive work while
their food is quite simple and vegetables are a large part of the
diet. Their simple life is quiet and stress free.