Want to Live Longer? 8 Blue Zone Lessons for a Healthier Life
Ever wonder why some people live longer than others? Although some of it is due to genetics, mortality mostly depends on your environment and lifestyle. Experts found that out by studying blue zones — geographic areas where the most people live longer and healthier lives. While you may not be willing to uproot your life and move to one of these areas, you can take a page from their book. Changing your lifestyle to imitate how people live in those regions may make you happier and healthier for longer.
What is a blue zone?
Experts have identified certain places and populations, called blue zones, as areas where people seem to be the healthiest in the world. The term was coined by researcher and explorer Dan Buettner, who discovered the regions while studying people’s lifespans.
- A high percentage of people who live to 100
- An aging population that doesn’t suffer from common degenerative diseases
- Older adults who are active well into their 90s
Identified blue zones include:
- Barbagia region in Sardinia, Italy
- Ikaria, a Greek island
- Loma Linda, California (specifically the Seventh-day Adventist population living there)
- Nicoya peninsula, Costa Rica
- Okinawa, a Japanese island
