These Health and Longevity Secrets from the Blue Zones will Change your Life!

Author: Pam SupportDate:
These Health and Longevity Secrets from the Blue Zones will Change your Life!

If you’re a Netflix subscriber you may have checked out the documentary - Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones. If so, you’ll be familiar with the fact that people in specific parts of the world are more likely to live longer and be healthier, and it’s not got a lot to do with having an expensive gym membership or a top of the range blender. 

So what are Blue Zones anyway?

They are several areas in the world where populations of people live to be 100 years or older. An age that exceeds the average U.S life expectancy by almost 25 years.

But the best thing about the Blue Zones is that these people are not only living long, they are living well. Their long lives are healthy, vibrant and active. They have significantly lower risk of heart attacks, strokes, cancer, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s and dementia.

So what seems to be their secret? 

If you haven’t seen the show let us fill you in. 

The Blue Zones idea first came from the result of a demographic study conducted by Gianni Pes and Michael Poulain, who discovered an area of Sardinia where a high concentration of men were living to be 100.

Dan Buettener, a National Geographic fellow and journalist, was inspired by this and took the idea and applied to other regions in the world where the residents were living long and healthy lives - namely Okinawa, Japan, Loma Linda, California, Nicoya, Costa Rica, and Ikaria, Greece. He ultimately wrote a book about it, which led to the recent Netflix documentary.

There are 9 specific lifestyle factors that unite the people in these different regions of the world as follows: 
  1. Plant Based Eating 
  2. Moderate, regular physical activity
  3. Ensuring a balanced caloric intake
  4. Having a sense of purpose in life
  5. Keeping stress levels down
  6. Drinking very limited amounts of alcohol
  7. A spiritual practice
  8. Emphasizing family
  9. Being involved in the social life of a community

While all of the above play their part in the good health and longevity of people in these blue zones, the real emphasis is on diet and movement. 

The Secret to their Diet 

The secret to their diet is a strong emphasis on homegrown or locally produced foods. A diet that is predominantly plant-based and nutrient dense, with 95% of the food intake comprising of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, beans, sweet potatoes, corn, herbs, nuts and seeds. 

This diet is packed with antioxidants and phytochemicals, which help to reduce inflammation - something that contributes to many different chronic diseases over time. 

The inhabitants of the Blue Zones also avoid highly processed and packaged foods, and avoid refined sugar, pesticides, and artificial ingredients. 

Their diet is close to the earth, full of whole food ingredients and on the most part prepared at home. 

The Secret to their Exercise 

They are also naturally active during the day, with physical activity woven into their routines without overthinking it. 

They might not engage in complicated HIIT routines, but they do walk everywhere, often uphill, and find movement in common chores such as gardening, cleaning, and interacting with children and pets. 

Isn’t it incredible to think that the secret to long lasting health can be found in the most simple and natural of human lifestyles - eating close to the earth and finding daily movement? 

With just a few small changes, including the other lifestyle factors about relaxation and community,  you can start to see the benefits in your own life.

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