Why people in “Blue Zones” are living longer

What are blue zones and why are they important?

If you have read the book by Dan Buetter namely blue zones then you will already know a lot about this post. Basically, he wandered the planet and found certain areas where people are living a long time – disproportionately so. He has created diagrams of all the overlapping characteristics that we see in many of these societies, and a lot of this stuff we can take and implement into our day to day lives.

These places are;

 Loma Linda – California

Nicoya – Costa Rica

Sardinia – Italy

Icaria – Greece

Okinawa – Japan

The people inhabiting Blue Zones share common lifestyle characteristics that contribute to their longevity and the people of these places produce a high rate of centenarians, suffer a fraction of the diseases that commonly kill people in other parts of the developed world, and they enjoy more years of quality health.

Shared characteristics amongst the hot spots

Family – put ahead of other concerns

Less smoking – avoiding pollution, using plants around the home to uptake the toxins and freshen the air they breath

Semi-vegetarians – the majority of food consumed is derived from plants

Social engagement – people of all ages are socially active and integrated into their communities

Legumes – commonly consumed, legumes include beans, peas, lentils and chickpeas, and they are all rich in fibre and protein

Moderate, regular physical activity – it is built into daily life and is inseparable from their life

Life purpose - people in the Blue Zones like the Okinawans, for example, embrace the concept known as Ikigai Japanese word for "a reason for being or “plan de Vida” in Nicoya

Stress reduction - meditation

Moderate to low-calorie intake - and they regularly fast

Sleep – they sleep for 8-9 hours per night and sometimes take naps

Moderate alcohol intake, especially wine - consuming one to two glasses of red wine per day is particularly common in the Icarian and Sardinian Blue Zones

Engagement in spirituality or religion - Blue Zones are typically religious communities. They have social support and reduced rates of depression

 Engagement in family life - in many Blue Zones, grandparents often live with their families

 Engagement in social life - your social network, called “moai” in Okinawa, can affect your health

The Blue Zone regions are home to some of the oldest and healthiest people in the world.

They mostly eat a plant-based diet, exercise regularly, drink moderate amounts of alcohol, get enough sleep and have good spiritual, family and social networks.

Each of these lifestyle factors has been linked to various case studies that have shown to be associated with longer life.

By incorporating them into your lifestyle, you may live longer but you will also feel better as well.