Secrets of the Longest-Lived People
There are places in the world where people live past their 100s, easily.
Is it all genetics or do lifestyle factors play a major role as well?
I am happy to say that while genetics are responsible for a part of your overall health, most of it is due to lifestyle habits.
Dan Buettner and colleagues have been interested in answering these questions for a long time. They have studied where the longest-lived populations are and what they do.
They pointed out 5 demographic areas and called them, “Blue Zones”.
By studying them, looking at what they eat and how they live, we can learn something that may benefit our lives too.
Wait, why are they called blue?
Simply because when Buettner and his colleagues were searching for these areas, they drew blue circles around them on a map :)
Okay, moving on.
Where Are The Blue Zones?
- Okinawa, Japan
- Ikaria, Greece
- Sardinia, Italy
- Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica
- Loma Linda, California
Are they healthier?
These 5 areas of the world share a number of practices and habits that, altogether, are thought to confer health benefits, longevity, and happiness.
They not only live longer but are also healthier!
They have lower rates of chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, depression, and dementia.
To put a more specific example, a study followed the life of 12 supercentenarians (99 years old) in Okinawa. They found that these people had an exceptionally healthy aging phenotype, where diseases only appeared later in life (after 105 years old).
Cataracts and fractures were the more common types of diseases, while heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes were almost non-existent.
What Foods Do They Eat?
All 5 populations follow a 90–100% plant-based diet.
The specifics differ between them but generally, they eat whatever fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts and seeds are available and in season. Moreover, they consume these foods in their “whole form” or minimally processed (like tofu and olive oil).
Instead of taking supplements or vitamins, they get everything they need from nutrient-dense, fiber-rich whole foods.
A diet full of plant-based foods is necessary for a healthy microbiome. Our gut bacteria thrive on plant-derived compounds. Byproducts of their metabolism are very important for our health, such as the well-studied short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).
Get all the detailed food info in this blog post!
So, That Is It? Is It All About Food?
Not really.
These communities move a lot every day. They like to have an active lifestyle by going for walks or attending group exercise sessions.
Family and friends are very important in their life. They build meaningful and strong social circles and are committed to their families.
The Blue Zones also take time to de-stress by practicing yoga and meditation. They try to be in the moment and aware of their surroundings. All these actions lead to lower levels of stress and increase overall happiness.
Ready to implement some, if not all, of these healthy habits of the Blue Zones? You can start by cooking some “live-longer” recipes! You can find some ideas on this website.
