Longevity & The Blue Zones

Jul 27, 2021

I’ve been fascinated by longevity for as long as I can remember. I’ve followed the work of Dan Buettner an explorer, New York Times bestselling author and National Geographic Fellow. He founded Blue Zones®, a company that puts the world’s best practices in longevity and well-being to work in people’s lives.

He found several longevity hotspots — the Barbagia region of Sardinia, Italy; Ikaria, Greece; Okinawa, Japan; the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica; and Loma Linda, California – and studied them for 30 years. People in these blue zones regions not just live longer, but they live better. He wanted to know why!

Besides having a large number of centenarians, people in these areas remain active into their 80s and 90s and do not suffer from the chronic diseases common in most parts of the industrialized world.

Dan distils the secrets of his studies that longevity is the ‘Power 9’ listed below:  

1. Move naturally throughout the day

2. Have and cultivate a strong sense of purpose

3. Downshift every day to relieve stress

4. 80% Rule: stop eating when you are 80 percent full

5. Plant Slant: Make beans, whole grains, veggies, and fruit the center of your diet

6. Wine @ 5: Enjoy wine and alcohol moderately with friends and/or food

7. Belong: Be part of a faith-based community or organization

8. Loved Ones First: Have close friends and strong family connections

9. Right Tribe: Cultivate close friends and strong social networks

Some of the more interesting findings from Dan’s work:

–       It’s not DNA and it’s not geography.

–       There is no magic bullet, supplement or food.

–       It isn’t enough to simply try and adopt the Power 9 lessons individually.

–       We need to eat and live as our great-grandparents did.

Dan’s work include taking these principals into communities with incredible outcomes.

On a personal level it just reminds me of the basics of good wellness.