Blue Zones are regions of the world where, it is claimed, a higher
than usual number people live much longer than average. The term first
appeared in his November 2005 National Geographic magazine cover
story, "The Secrets of a Long Life". Five "Blue Zones" have been
posited: Okinawa (Japan); Sardinia (Italy); Nicoya (Costa Rica);
Icaria (Greece); and among the Seventh-day Adventists in Loma Linda,
California, based on evidence showing why these populations live
healthier and longer lives than others.The concept grew out of
demographic work done by Gianni Pes and Michel Poulain outlined in the
Journal of Experimental Gerontology, who identified Sardinia's Nuoro
province as the region with the highest concentration of male
centenarians. As the two men zeroed in on the cluster of villages with
the highest longevity, they drew concentric blue circles on the map
and began referring to the area inside the circle as the "Blue Zone".
Together with demographers Pes and Poulain, Buettner broadened the
term, applying it to validated longevity areas of Okinawa, Japan and
among the Seventh-day Adventists in Loma Linda, California. Buettner
and Poulain, under the aegis of National Geographic, then identified
and validated longevity hotspots in Nicoya, Costa Rica and Icaria,
Greece. Buettner mentions in his book that people are doing the right
things for long enough, and avoiding the wrong things," there are four
main things that people in those zones do in order to live healthier
and longer lives, and they consist of moving regularly, which does not
comprise of exercise alone, but doing daily energy burst habits
throughout the day. The second aspect is living with purpose, having a
reason to get up every day, and living with perspective. The third
aspect of blue zone populations is the social support they receive
from friends and family allowing them to move through life outcomes
more smoothly. Fourth but not least is the concept that most still do
not understand, which is making the "healthy choice the easy choice",
and not just an option. Living by these four concepts brings longevity
and mental and physical problems to one's life and society.The five
regions that are identified in the book The Blue Zones: Lessons for
Living Longer from the People Who've Lived the Longest are:Residents
of these places produce a high rate of centenarians, suffer a fraction
of the diseases that commonly kill people in other parts of the
developed world, and enjoy more years of good health.
than usual number people live much longer than average. The term first
appeared in his November 2005 National Geographic magazine cover
story, "The Secrets of a Long Life". Five "Blue Zones" have been
posited: Okinawa (Japan); Sardinia (Italy); Nicoya (Costa Rica);
Icaria (Greece); and among the Seventh-day Adventists in Loma Linda,
California, based on evidence showing why these populations live
healthier and longer lives than others.The concept grew out of
demographic work done by Gianni Pes and Michel Poulain outlined in the
Journal of Experimental Gerontology, who identified Sardinia's Nuoro
province as the region with the highest concentration of male
centenarians. As the two men zeroed in on the cluster of villages with
the highest longevity, they drew concentric blue circles on the map
and began referring to the area inside the circle as the "Blue Zone".
Together with demographers Pes and Poulain, Buettner broadened the
term, applying it to validated longevity areas of Okinawa, Japan and
among the Seventh-day Adventists in Loma Linda, California. Buettner
and Poulain, under the aegis of National Geographic, then identified
and validated longevity hotspots in Nicoya, Costa Rica and Icaria,
Greece. Buettner mentions in his book that people are doing the right
things for long enough, and avoiding the wrong things," there are four
main things that people in those zones do in order to live healthier
and longer lives, and they consist of moving regularly, which does not
comprise of exercise alone, but doing daily energy burst habits
throughout the day. The second aspect is living with purpose, having a
reason to get up every day, and living with perspective. The third
aspect of blue zone populations is the social support they receive
from friends and family allowing them to move through life outcomes
more smoothly. Fourth but not least is the concept that most still do
not understand, which is making the "healthy choice the easy choice",
and not just an option. Living by these four concepts brings longevity
and mental and physical problems to one's life and society.The five
regions that are identified in the book The Blue Zones: Lessons for
Living Longer from the People Who've Lived the Longest are:Residents
of these places produce a high rate of centenarians, suffer a fraction
of the diseases that commonly kill people in other parts of the
developed world, and enjoy more years of good health.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.