What Do the "Blue Zones" Have to Do with Health and Longer Lives?

Journalist Dan Buettner joined forces with National Geographic along with other longevity researchers to search out areas of the world where people lived significantly healthier and longer lives. So far five "blue zones" (as they have been dubbed) have been identified. They are:

Sardina, an island that is part of Italy
Okinawa, Japan
Loma Linda, California
Nicoya Peninsula, an isolated part of Costa Rica
Ikaria, an isolated Greek island

What Buettner and his team learned was that a long, healthy life could be achieved through lifestyle and not through quick fixes, fad diets, or the like. As a result, Buettner came up with what he calls the Power9, which he developed after studying the lifestyles of these five blue zones; however, the basic principles can be distilled down into four categories.

Category 1: Move daily
This is not about just working out at your local gym. This is about structuring your life in such a way that you are naturally moving on a regular basis. Whether you are enjoying playing with your children or grandchildren, pursuing a favorite activity such as gardening, or just walking, your lifestyle should be such that physical activity is a daily -- and normal -- part of your life. It was found that the people in the Blue Zones spent their days walking in the hills or hiking up mountains and/or working the land. It reminds me of the time that I spent studying in Germany where we tended to walk everywhere. We would hike down the mountain from the castle where we were staying into the little village below and then hike back up the mountain. Walking and hiking became such a part of our daily lives that we began to take a lot of pleasure in the physical activity. It became a natural part of our lifestyle.

Category 2: Eat healthy
The people in the Blue Zones tend to eat a diet resplendent with fresh vegetables and fruits, nuts, and fish. They eat less meat, sugars, fats, and processed foods. It is really not that difficult to begin to incorporate fresher foods into your diet and to begin to eliminate processed foods. Shop on the outer perimeter of your grocery store where the fresh fruits and vegetables are. Another option is to visit your local farmers market regularly where you will not only find fresh fruits and vegetables but also locally-grown produce. It should be noted that another thing that Buettner discovered, particularly in Sardina, was that red wine was a regular part of their diet. Therefore, he recommends that everyone drink two glasses of red wine per day. Of course, this is not as important as including more fresh food in your diet and less processed, as well as more fish and less red meat, sugar, and fat.

Category 3: Have a good outlook
Knowing your place in the universe can help to lower the stress in your life. This incorporates recognizing and articulating your purpose in life. It also means that you allow yourself to take time to smell the roses and have periods of quiet and calm. In other words, a frenetic lifestyle; i.e., running from place to place all day every day, can actually shorten your life. You soon realize that you are not enjoying all of these activities but are just compelled to cram as much into your day as possible. Stop. Take a breath. The people in the Blue Zones understand their purpose for being in this life and embrace it. They also take time to enjoy it.

Category 4: Be a part of the right tribe
This tribal concept means that you just make your family a priority. Spend time with your family. Many nutritionists are encouraging families to eat at least one meal per day together. When my children were growing up, meals were a time that we not only enjoyed a good home cooked meal but also when we would catch up on what each of us had done during the day. It was a time spent not just eating but also conversing and connecting. In addition, your "tribe" should include people who have a positive impact upon your life. A strong social network is important. In other words, good friends can help you live longer. Finally, you should try to reconnect with your religion or spiritual beliefs.

If you really want to live a longer and healthier life, do not think that you need to pack up and move to one of the Blue Zones. Longevity is not about where you live but how you live.

References:

Dan Buettner: Blue Zones.

Singularity Hub. Keith Kleiner: Blue Zones -- Places In the World Where People Live to 100 and Stay Healthy.