Discovering The Blue Zone Way Of Life: Join Me On A Journey To Longevity

Living in Tokyo, Japan has been an incredible adventure. Last year, I read the book Ikigai, which you might have heard of. It’s known as “The Japanese Secret to a Long and Healthy Life,” and it deeply inspired me. The book explores the lives of Okinawan centenarians — people who are 100 years old or older — and how they live fully and healthily.

I never imagined I would get the chance to live in Japan, and I am truly grateful. However, I’ve also learned that modernization is causing a decline in the number of centenarians in Okinawa. This got me thinking about our fast-paced lifestyles. Earning money and living life in the fast lane isn’t inherently bad, but it often comes at the cost of our health. Remember the saying, “Health is wealth”? It turns out it’s true. The cycle of earning a high salary only to spend it on healthcare due to poor lifestyle choices, stress, and unhealthy eating habits is something we need to break.

Why Focus on Blue Zones?

Reading Ikigai made me realize what’s important for a long and healthy life. This has become my mission — to spread awareness and encourage healthier living. There are five notable Blue Zones around the world: Sardinia (Italy), Okinawa (Japan), Nicoya (Costa Rica), Icaria (Greece), and Loma Linda (California). These are the places where people live significantly longer and healthier lives. The world is vast, yet these Blue Zones are just a few spots on the map.

I highly recommend watching the Netflix series Live to 100: The Secrets of the Blue Zones here. It’s a fascinating watch that you can share with your loved ones too.

What Fuels Their Longevity?

Let’s dive into the secrets behind their lifestyles:

Okinawa

• Medicinal Foods: 60% of their diet consists of purple sweet potatoes, with only 2% fish. Eat your food as medicine rather than relying on medicine as your food.
• Low-Caloric Density Food: Choose foods with low caloric density.
• Hara Hachi Bu: Stop eating when you’re 80% full.
• Passion and Purpose: Find your passion and pursue it daily (Ikigai). They don’t retire!
• Physical Strength: They maintain excellent lower body strength.
• Moais: Community and social circles that support each other, live, laugh, and dance together.

Sardinia

• Minestrone Vegetable Soup: A staple in their diet.
• Healthy Carbohydrate Preparation: They prepare carbs in healthful ways.
• Stress Control: They know how to manage stress.
• Elder Care: They take great care of their elders.
• Steep Terrain: Walking on inclined paths is part of daily life.
• Sourdough Bread: Made with lactobacillus, which lowers the glycemic index and reduces sugar absorption.
• Complex Carbohydrates: Their diet is rich in whole grains, greens, and beans, and high in fiber, keeping inflammation in check and the immune system strong.

Loma Linda

• Volunteering: They frequently volunteer.
• Nutrition: Focus on nutrition.
• Plant-Based Diet: They follow a predominantly plant-based diet.
• The Right Tribe: Surrounding themselves with a supportive community.

Ikaria

• Herbal Tea: Regular consumption of herbal tea.
• Raw Honey: They use raw honey but never boil it.
• Partnerships: Healthy relationships with partners.
• Ikaria Wine: A part of their diet.
• Friendly Community: A community that fosters laughter and joy.

Nicoya

• Daily Chores: They do their everyday chores themselves.
• Plan De Vida: A clear sense of purpose and direction in life.
• Family Time: They enjoy and prioritize family time.
• Three Sisters Diet: Black beans, corn, and pumpkins — rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Their traditional processing boosts the nutritional value of corn.

My Journey and Tips for You

I’m seeking to improve my gut health, change my eating habits, manage stress, and engage in outdoor activities like hiking. Next on my list is volunteering. A healthy life is a holistic one, and we don’t need to be perfectionists to achieve it.

I recently read in The Mountain Is You that we shouldn’t worry about doing things perfectly. Instead, we should focus on progress. If we don’t start, we’ll never reach our destination. Building healthy habits, one step at a time, is key. Together, we can make this journey toward a healthier life.

Thank you for reading! This was a bit long, but I hope you found it insightful. Stay tuned for my next post, where I’ll dive deeper into building healthy habits.

Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments. Let’s make this a conversation!