The Blue Zones
The identiity of demographic and geographic areas in the world where people consistently and measurably live longer. So, where are these places and what is their secret. The five regions are:
(1) Sardinia, Italy, where men in mountain villages are reaching 100 years at an amazing rate.
(2) The Islands of Okinawa, Japan.
(3) A group of Seventh-day Adventists in Loma Linda, California. Interesting!
(4) Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica.
(5) Icaria, Greece, which is the location with the highest percentage of 90 year-olds on the planet - nearly 1 out of 3 people make it to their 90s. Wow!
What are the common characteristics these places share?
Family – put ahead of other concerns
Less smoking...hum, I would have thought no smoking
Semi-vegetarianism – except for the Sardinian diet, the majority of food consumed is derived from plants
Constant moderate physical activity – an inseparable part of life
Social engagement – people of all ages are socially active and integrated into their communities
Legumes – commonly consumed
Geographical area
For more information and all the data read Dan Buettner's book, The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from people who lived the longest.
