I haven't read the book. But, I've heard lots about it, and have read and listened to lots of information on the nine habits that contribute to long, healthy lives.
Here are the five areas of the world identified in the book: Okinawa, Japan; the Ogliastra region of Sardinia; Ikaria, Greece; Nicoya, Costa Rica; and Loma Linda, California. (Today, a community of about 9,000 Seventh Day Adventists in the Loma Linda area are the core of America's Blue Zone region.)
I'd recommend either reading the book, The Blue Zones, or googling or YouTube-ing info about it. It's fascinating, and many of these strategies aren't hard to put into practice. The author is Dan Buettner and he also has a few other Blue Zone books out.
1. They Incorporate Exercise Into Their Everyday Activities
Physical activity is more about their natural surroundings rather than dedicated trips to the gym. They walk (or bike) to school, to work, to friends’ houses. They make bread from scratch. They garden. They keep moving as they get older.
2. They Eat Mostly Plants
Fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains make up the majority of their diet. Beans (legumes) and nuts are also a cornerstone. Canned vegetables are swapped for fresh peas, cucumbers, carrots, celery, black beans and more.
3. They Stop Eating Before They’re Full
They push their plates away when they feel 80 percent full. The reason this aids longevity: when you stop eating after not feeling hungry, but before feeling full, it helps keep your waistline in check.
4. They Drink One to Two Glasses of Wine a Day
Red wine in general has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, certain cancers and slow the progression of neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease, thanks to plant compounds and antioxidants. This all comes one obvious caveat: overindulging—more than one glass a day for women, and two for men—negates the positive effects.
5. They Mitigate Stress
The root of nearly every disease is chronic inflammation and most of said chronic inflammation comes from intestinal inflammation that “results from eating lots of crap—but it can also come from the hurry and worry of everyday lives”, says the author. Centenarians have daily rituals that reverse this. Rituals like naps in Ikaria, happy hour in Sardinia and taking a moment to remember ancestors in Okinawa. Running is also said to decrease stress.
6. Their Life Has Purpose
Knowing your sense of purpose is worth up to seven years of extra life expectancy. In Okinawa, it’s called “Ikigai” and in Nicoya, it’s “plan de vida.” Both translate roughly to: “why I wake up in the morning.”
7. They Belong to Tight-Knit Social Circles
These social circles come in various shapes and sizes, but all provide camaraderie and kinship that supports healthy behaviors. The Okinawans form “moai” pods of five friends who commit to each other to life while the Ikarians build larger communities that socialize frequently.
8. They Are a Part of a Larger Faith-Based Community
All but five of the 263 centenarians involved in the original Blue Zone studies belonged to some faith-based community. While the specific type of spirituality varied, the research is clear: attending faith-based services four times per month can add up to 14 years of life expectancy.
9. They Prioritize Family
Being in a positive, committed relationship can add up to six years of life expectancy, and Blue Zone people go out of their way to cultivate deep relationships with their children as well as parents and grandparents. Their cultures value old age and aging family members are often cared for in their families’ homes.
Here are the five areas of the world identified in the book: Okinawa, Japan; the Ogliastra region of Sardinia; Ikaria, Greece; Nicoya, Costa Rica; and Loma Linda, California. (Today, a community of about 9,000 Seventh Day Adventists in the Loma Linda area are the core of America's Blue Zone region.)
I'd recommend either reading the book, The Blue Zones, or googling or YouTube-ing info about it. It's fascinating, and many of these strategies aren't hard to put into practice. The author is Dan Buettner and he also has a few other Blue Zone books out.
9 Healthy Habits to Help You Live Longer and Happier Lives
1. They Incorporate Exercise Into Their Everyday Activities
Physical activity is more about their natural surroundings rather than dedicated trips to the gym. They walk (or bike) to school, to work, to friends’ houses. They make bread from scratch. They garden. They keep moving as they get older.
2. They Eat Mostly Plants
Fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains make up the majority of their diet. Beans (legumes) and nuts are also a cornerstone. Canned vegetables are swapped for fresh peas, cucumbers, carrots, celery, black beans and more.
3. They Stop Eating Before They’re Full
They push their plates away when they feel 80 percent full. The reason this aids longevity: when you stop eating after not feeling hungry, but before feeling full, it helps keep your waistline in check.
4. They Drink One to Two Glasses of Wine a Day
Red wine in general has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, certain cancers and slow the progression of neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease, thanks to plant compounds and antioxidants. This all comes one obvious caveat: overindulging—more than one glass a day for women, and two for men—negates the positive effects.
5. They Mitigate Stress
The root of nearly every disease is chronic inflammation and most of said chronic inflammation comes from intestinal inflammation that “results from eating lots of crap—but it can also come from the hurry and worry of everyday lives”, says the author. Centenarians have daily rituals that reverse this. Rituals like naps in Ikaria, happy hour in Sardinia and taking a moment to remember ancestors in Okinawa. Running is also said to decrease stress.
6. Their Life Has Purpose
Knowing your sense of purpose is worth up to seven years of extra life expectancy. In Okinawa, it’s called “Ikigai” and in Nicoya, it’s “plan de vida.” Both translate roughly to: “why I wake up in the morning.”
7. They Belong to Tight-Knit Social Circles
These social circles come in various shapes and sizes, but all provide camaraderie and kinship that supports healthy behaviors. The Okinawans form “moai” pods of five friends who commit to each other to life while the Ikarians build larger communities that socialize frequently.
8. They Are a Part of a Larger Faith-Based Community
All but five of the 263 centenarians involved in the original Blue Zone studies belonged to some faith-based community. While the specific type of spirituality varied, the research is clear: attending faith-based services four times per month can add up to 14 years of life expectancy.
9. They Prioritize Family
Being in a positive, committed relationship can add up to six years of life expectancy, and Blue Zone people go out of their way to cultivate deep relationships with their children as well as parents and grandparents. Their cultures value old age and aging family members are often cared for in their families’ homes.
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