“The Blue Zones” is an interesting New York Times bestseller written by Dan Buettner, a longevity expert who traveled the world to meet the planet’s longest-living people in unique communities called Blue Zones, where common elements of diet, lifestyle, and outlook have led to a great quantity and quality of life.
Sardinia’s Blue Zone lessons (Italy):
- Eat a lean, plant-based diet accented with meat. Drink goat’s milk. Drink a glass of red wine daily.
- Put family first, celebrate elders, and laugh with friends.
- Take a walk.
Okinawa’s longevity lessons (Japan):
- Embrace an ikigai (purpose), secure social network, and affable smugness.
- Rely on a plant-based diet and eat more soy.
- Get gardening, enjoy the sunshine, stay active, and plant a medicinal garden.
Loma Linda’s Blue Zone secrets (California):
- Find a sanctuary in time (ex: 24-hour Sabbath).
- Maintain a healthy BMI and get regular, moderate exercise.
- Spend time with like-minded friends and give something back.
- Snack on nuts, eat in moderation, eat an early and light dinner, put more plants in your diet, and drink plenty of water.
Costa Rica’s longevity secrets:
- Have a strong sense of purpose, keep a focus on family, maintain social networks, keep hard at work, and embrace a common history.
- Drink hard water, eat a light dinner, and get some sensible sun.
Ikaria’s Blue Zone secrets (Greece):
- Drink goat’s milk, eat a Mediterranean-style diet, stock up on herbal teas, and fast occasionally.
- Mimic mountain living, nap, and make friends and family a priority.
9 lessons overall:
- Move naturally and be active without having to think about it. Walk. Garden. Have fun.
- Hara Hachi Bu– eat until you are 80% full. Serve yourself at your counter and put food away before eating. Use smaller plates. Eat more slowly, sit, and focus on food, not on work or tv.
- Avoid meat and processed foods. Limit meat, increase your bean consumption, eat nuts every day, and showcase fruits and vegetables.
- Introduce a glass of wine into a daily routine — high-quality red wine.
- Take time to see the big picture and realize your purpose. Craft a personal mission statement. Learn something new.
- Take time to relieve stress. Plan to be early, meditate, and minimize time spent with electronics.
- Participate in a spiritual community. Be involved.
- Make family a priority. Establish rituals. Create a family shrine.
- Be surrounded by those who share Blue Zone values. Identify your inner circle, be likable, and create time together.
You can take a test to calculate your life expectancy and how long you’ll stay healthy here:
https://apps.bluezones.com/en/vitality
I look forward to reading, learning, and sharing more with you soon!
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