Have you already watched – live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones on Netflix yet? What if the secret to living a long and peaceful life is really hidden in specific corners of the world?
Since the early 2000s, Dan Buettner, a National Geographic fellow, travelled around the globe to find answers. Answers that philosophers and scientists, both, have been searching since ages.
In this article
Buettner came across specific regions of the world that were housing people:
- living longer than global average
- thriving well in their elder years
- often free from chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, or Alzheimer’s.
These regions were coined as the ‘’Blue Zones’’. Whilst scattered across continents and cultures, they do share common elements that could be the bedrock of their longevity.
Genes have relatively little impact on how long and healthy we live. Ageing is a result of our lifestyle, diet, and habits.
Where are the original 5 Blue Zones?
1. Okinawa, Japan: A great number of centenarians who relish a diet rich in tofu, vegetables, and fish.
2. Sardinia, Italy: The mountainous Barbagia region stands out for its legume-rich diet and robust community bonds.
3. Loma Linda, California, USA: This Seventh-day Adventist community embraces a vegetarian diet and have strong faith in community.
4. Ikaria, Greece: Known for its Mediterranean diet, strong social ties, and a cultural acceptance of napping.
5. Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica: A paradise that champions a diet rich in tropical fruits and has a high sense of purpose amongst its elders.
5 lessons learnt from the Blue Zones
If you really want a long, healthy life and sharp brain until the end– there are some lessons to be learnt from the Blue Zones. There is nothing special about their genes, but rather how they lived.
- Diet: Get the rainbow
In most Blue Zones, diets are primarily plant-based, comprising legumes, fruits, and whole grains. In Okinawa, the traditional diet consists of a plethora of colourful vegetables and tofu. In Sardinia, legumes like lentils and chickpeas are staple foods. People from the Blue Zones tend to eat fish, rarely any red meat, and processed foods are remarkably absent.
- Physical activity: Move naturally
Forget about treadmills and other fancy gym equipments. Physical activity in these regions is seamlessly integrated into their daily life. Whether it’s the manual labour involved in farming in the Nicoya Peninsula, or the habitual walking amongst the hills of Sardinia, movement is a natural part of their lifestyle.
- Social engagement: Trust your tribe
You won’t find isolated elders in Blue Zones. The community is an essential part of daily life, be it through large family gatherings, social events, or even religious practices. In Ikaria, social engagement extends to all age groups, fostering a multi-generational interaction that contributes to mental well-being. They have great tribes and even greater connection.
- Stress management: Relax more often
Another notable feature is the way these communities manage stress. From observing the Sabbath in Loma Linda to taking afternoon siestas in Ikaria, effective stress management strategies are organically built into their routines. Much of the lifestyles of people from the Blue Zones include mindfulness and being in the present moment. They tend to live the ‘’slow life’’, not really chasing anything.
- Sense of purpose: Be grateful to be alive
Inhabitants of Blue Zones often express a clear sense of purpose or ‘ikigai,’ as it’s known in Okinawa. This psychological factor could significantly contribute to longevity, keeping people active and engaged in their later years. Nicoyans call it plan de vida. Knowing why you wake up in the morning makes you healthier, happier, and may add up seven years of extra life expectancy.
Where science meets tradition
It’s fascinating how the principles from these age-old cultures align so perfectly with modern scientific recommendations for longevity.
- Diet for longevity
‘’Real food doesn’t have ingredients, real food is ingredients.’’ –
Jamie Oliver
For several decades now, research has consistently found that a diet made up of vegetables, fruit, nuts, legumes, and whole grains, and moderate in high-quality animal proteins, can reduce your risk of major diseases and help you live longer.
The power of plant-based diets is due to the nutrients they provide, beyond their important vitamins and minerals. They are a key source of dietary fibre, resistant starch, and potent plant compounds, including antioxidants and phytochemicals.
The benefits also come from what they don’t contain. A primarily plant-based diet contains less saturated fat and less cholesterol.
- Exercising for longevity
Exercise is a powerful lifestyle intervention that improves blood pressure, blood sugar control, insulin sensitivity, cholesterol profile, mood, motivation, cognitive function, and sleep quality.
It can also dramatically lower the risk of heart disease, cancer, and dementia whilst helping you lose weight and build muscle and bone health.
Make movement is a fundamental part of your life, and watch yourself get closer to healthy centenarians worldwide. Exercise is a vital component of healthy ageing and may even reverse your biological age.
- Social interactions for longevity
Hanging out with loved ones is a healthy way to unwind and reduce stress, rather than resorting to negative coping mechanisms, like undesired drug use or binge-watching shows. It can help you unclutter your mind, and also process your situation. Having deep and meaningful conversations will only strengthen connections with each other.
Laughing releases endorphins, which are natural feel-good chemicals that improve mood and overall well-being. It also increases blood flow and reduce inflammation, which means that when you laugh with loved ones, you are also benefiting your heart and your immune system. Keep those who make you laugh around.
Longevity Bundle– Avea
From reducing oxidative stress through a diet rich in antioxidants to enhancing gut health via plant-based foods, the wisdom of the Blue Zones finds validation in contemporary research.
Our Longevity Bundle incorporate ingredients that align with the diets and lifestyles of these regions. The high levels of polyphenols in Sardinian wine, for instance, have their parallel in supplements that provide potent antioxidants.
Our Longevity Bundle ensures you restore and maintain levels of crucial molecules such as NAD+, Ubiquinol (CoQ10), CaAKG, and Collagen in your body to optimise your healthspan.
Not only do they offer individual benefits, but the supplements also work synergistically to support daily life activities, boosting energy, and improving sleep quality.
A blueprint for longevity
Understanding the Blue Zones is more than just an exotic travel itinerary; it provides a tangible blueprint for a lifestyle that enhances longevity. The blend of ancient wisdom with modern science could well be your passport to a longer, healthier, and more fulfilling life.
So, as you strive for longevity, maybe take a leaf out of the Blue Zones’ book. After all, who wouldn’t want to borrow a couple of extra, healthy decades from these remarkable, happy, and peaceful communities?
The elixir of long life might just be hiding in plain sight, but we are too busy focused on the fast life.
Learn how to create good habits and get rid of bad ones here.
