According to science the following groups of people live
longer than normal. There are areas
called Blue Zones where people who live in these areas live longer than
the normal person. The Blue Zones are:
Barbagia region of Sardinia –
Mountainous highlands of inner Sardinia with the world’s highest concentration
of male centenarians.
Ikaria, Greece – Aegean Island with
one of the world’s lowest rates of middle age mortality and the lowest rates of
dementia.
Nicoya Penninsula, Costa
Rice – One of the World’s lowest rates of middle age mortality and second
highest concentration of male centenarians.
Seventh Day Adventists – The
highest concentration of Seventh Day Adventists is around Loma Linda,
California. They live 10 years longer
than their North American counterparts.
Okinawa, Japan – Females over 70 are
the longest-lived population in the world.
What enables them to thrive? Research tells us that it comes down to
nine qualities:
1. 1. Move Naturally: The
world’s longest lived people don’t work out in the gym or pump iron, they live
in environments that encourage constant natural movement. They work in the garden and do things for
themselves instead of using mechanical conveniences.
2. 2. Purpose: The
Okinawans call it “Ikigai” and the Nicoyans call it “plan de Vida.” Both translate to “why I wake up in the
morning.” Knowing your purpose in life
can add seven years to your life.
3. 3. Down Shift: Stress
leads to medical problems, things like chronic inflammation which is associated
to every major age-related disease. People
who live longer have routines to shed stress.
Okinawans take a few minutes each day to remember their ancestors,
Adventist pray, Ikarians take a nap and Sardinans do happy hour.
4. 4. 80% Rule: “Hara
hachi bu” – the Okinawan, 2500 year old Confucian mantra said before meals he
reminds them to stop eating when their 80% full. The 20% gap between not being hungry and
feeling full could be the difference between losing weight and gaining it. People in the Blue Zone eat their smallest
meal in the late afternoon or early evening and they don’t eat any more the
rest of the day.
5. 5. Plant Slant:
Beans, including fava, black, soy and lentils, are the cornerstone of most
centenarian diets. Meat, most pork, is
eaten on average only five times a month with serving sizes being 3-4oz or
about the size of a deck of cards.
6. 6. Wine: About
5 people in all Blue Zones (except Adventist) drink alcohol moderately and
regularly. Moderate drinkers outlive
non-drinkers. One to two glasses per day
(preferable Sardinian Cannonau wine), with friends and/or food.
7. 7. Belong: All
but 263 centenarians interviewed belonged to a faith based community. The Denomination doesn’t seem to matter. Attending faith based services four times a
month will add 4-14 years of life expectancy.
8. 8. Loved Ones First: Centenarians
in the Blue Zone put their families first.
Keeping aging parents and grandparents in the home or nearby. It lowers disease and mortality rates of
children in the home too. They commit to
a life partner which adds 3 years to their life expectancy and invest in their
children with time and love.
9. 9. Right Tribe:
Choose or were born into social circles that support healthy behavior.
