The Blue Zones: Healthy Living and Longevity

Would you like to live a longer healthier life?

Your lifespan, to some extent, is determined by your genetics, but your lifestyle may have more of an impact on your longevity than you think!

“Blue Zones” are geographic areas that are home to some of the oldest people in the world.

The people in these regions don’t just live longer; they have lower rates of chronic diseases, cancer, diabetes and obesity compared to anywhere else in the world.

So they must be doing something right!

The term “Blue Zone” was coined by Dan Buettner, who studied the parts of the world where people lived exceptionally long lives. They are called Blue Zones because of the blue circles Buettner had drawn on the areas of the map he and his colleagues studied.

According to Dan Buettner – explorer, National Geographic Fellow, journalist, producer and bestselling author – the residents in these Blue Zones are outliving us because they have worked out what everyone else hasn’t!

It was in 2004, when Buettner – together with anthropologists, demographers, epidemiologists and other researchers – travelled around the world to specifically study these communities that had a high percentage of nonagenarians and centenarians – people that live to be over 90 and 100.

They interviewed dozens of people who lived to 100 years old, on their diet, sleeping habits and day to day activities. Their research showed all of these people shared something in common.

So what is it that these people do differently to everyone else? 

We’re glad you asked that question! In this article, we will take a look at what their secrets are, what their lifestyle looks like and how it results in them living a healthier and longer life.

And the good news is that you don’t have to live in any of the Blue Zones to incorporate these simple habits into your lifestyle and potentially add years on to your life!

So where are these mysterious regions located?

Where Are the Blue Zones in the World?

Dan Buettner figured out that there were at least five Blue Zones in the world, where people were living past the 100 mark. These zones are:

Icaria: Icaria is an Island in Greece where the residents eat a Mediterranean diet consisting of plenty of olive oil and vegetables. Research shows that the Mediterranean diet promotes brain and physical health and keeps chronic diseases away. 

Ogliastra, Sardinia: Ogliastra – a region of Sardinia in Italy – is where some of the oldest men in the world live. These locals live on mountainous regions and normally work on farms.

Okinawa: Okinawa, in Japan, has some of the world’s oldest women. Their diet consists of soy-based foods and they also practice a meditative exercise known as “tai chi”.

Nicoya Peninsula: Nicoya in Costa Rica is home to people whose diet is mainly beans and corn tortillas. They have physical jobs, even into old age, and have a sense of life purpose which they’ve called “plan de vida”.

The Seventh-day Adventists in Loma Linda, California: This group of people in California, USA are very religious, live in tight-knit communities and are strict vegetarians.