Optimal Longevity Around the Globe
Did you know there are five places around the world where living to 100 is the norm?
These places were discovered by a team of gerontology researchers. During their quest, they noticed specific places, or hotspots, containing large number of centenarians (people living to be 100-plus) and named these locations, “The Blue ZonesTM.”
What are Blue Zones?
According to the founder of Blue Zones, Dan Buettner, these are places where people live the longest and healthiest.
The Five locations are:
- Okinawa, Japan
- Sardinia, Italy
- Nicoya, Costa Rica
- Ikaria, Greece
- Loma Linda, California
Let us look deeper into each “Blue Zone”:
Okinawa, Japan
- Known as “the land of immortals”, they have the longest living women in the world.
- The morbidity period is compressed to under a year. (America has the largest morbidity period, an average of six years.)
- Okinawa has five times as many centenarians as Americans.
- 1/5 of cardiovascular diseases compared to Americans.
- Women spend 2-3 hours working in their gardens – providing Vitamin D from the sun and muscle strength from squatting.
- They have a strategy to stop eating when they are 80% full.
- The people of Okinawa are born into a pack (a network of friends) and they support each other through life.
- Japanese do not have a word for retirement, they have chapters of life.
Sardinia, Italy
- In Sardinia, the culture dates back to the Bronze age.
- The men are reaching the age of 100 at 11 times the rate of Americans.
- Five commonalities:
- They consume more barley than any staple diet.
- If men have five or more daughters they would reach the age of 100.
- They are mainly sheepherders- walking five miles every single day in partnership with their sons, friends, and brothers.
- Their diet consists of a largely plant based diet with a small bit of animal protein about once a week. This includes a special type of cheese that is high in Omega 3 fatty acids and a specific type of flat bread.
- A lot of wine is consumed!
- Italians respect and revere Centenarians.
- All of them have a purpose-some form of voluntarism.
Nicoya, Costa Rica
- Highest rates of reaching age 100 once you make it to age 50.
- Environment and lifestyle are the key components.
- They eat a lot of beans- main staple in their meals.
Ikaria, Greece
- Life revolves heavily on family.
Loma Linda, California
- A culture of Seventh Day Adventists – the women on average live nine years longer than other American women.
- Not about the genes, but about the lifestyle.
- They take their diet straight out of the bible- largely vegetarian. They cannot drink alcohol, smoke, or consume soft drinks.
- Sabbath is celebrated on Saturday instead of Sunday, which makes them only interact with each other- they participate in nature hikes on Saturdays.
- It is all about the same routine every single week.
The commonalities are known as the Power9:
- Move Naturally- skip the gym
- Have Purpose
- Right Outlook/Down shift- meditate, nap, pray
- Eat Wisely
- Plant based
- 80% rule
- Wine @ 5
- Belong- faith based gatherings
- Loved ones first
- Right tribe- friends and social networks
So, how can we increase the number of places of living to 100?
Although the statistics are currently bleak for Americans, Dan Buettner, Jr. (son of the founder) is currently working with several communities around the country to improve the health and wellbeing of aging citizens. By using the Blue Zones Power9 concepts, he is working to make longevity and a fulfilling life for the aging standard.
As this idea catches on, it will be interesting to see how many of the Boomers and Generation X will live to see 100. I know I will start working in my yard more, take longer walks, and try to stop eating when I feel 80% full. How will you increase your quality of life?
