I would guess that most of us wish to live long lives, but with the caveat that they are long, happy, HEALTHY lives. Dan Beuttner was curious enough to visit 5 areas of the world where there was a concentration of healthy centenarians. They are Okinawa, Japan, Sardinia, Loma Linda, CA, Costa Rica and Ikaria, Greece.
What do the Blue Zones have in Common
Strong Community Ties: Close-knit social structures appear in all these zones, This supports mental and emotional health.
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Mostly Plant-Based Diet: Rich in beans, whole grains,, fruits and vegetables along with healthy fats, twith very limited inflammatory, processed foods
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Regular, Moderate Physical Activity: No gyms here; just regular outdoor activity like gardening, walking, etc.
Stress-Reducing Practices: Mindfulness, relaxation, and rest in safe environments lead to overall well-being
As I watched the documentary on these 5 locations, I was struck by how the residents are very social within their families and communities. Their diets were native to where they live, so they were not the same, indicating to me that there is benefit to eating local food. Many were gardeners, even at 100, and therefore were outdoors frequently. Costa Rica has an exceptional health care system, where trained practitioners travel by bicycle to every region to conduct annual home visits and assessments.
We have much to learn from the smiling faces of the Blue Zones centenarians.