What if the secret to living longer does not reside in an expensive diet or intense training, but in life, and coincidentally shared in distant corners of the globe?Surprisingly, it is the secret behind the concept of blue areas, regions where people often live after 100. And this is not a miracle; Instead, these are simple lifestyles in everyday life.
What are blue areas
Dan Buettner, an American author, explorer, storyteller and longevity researcher, had made a national geographic expedition and which was surprisingly transformed into a major discovery to live a longer and healthier life.Buettner and his team, which is made up of scientists, anthropologists and demographers, have decided to explore regions where people live regularly at 100 or over. They finally identified five of these places around the world, now known as “Blue Zones”, including Loma Linda in California, Nicoya in Costa Rica, Sardinia in Italy, Ikaria in Greece and Okinawa in Japan.What these places had in common was not only luck or good genes. In fact, according to the Danish Twin study, only about 20% of our lifespan is determined by genetics; The rest is defined by our daily habits and our lifestyle choices. Buettner and his team studied people in these regions and discovered that they shared key life traits, there were things like natural movement, a sense of objective, low stress, diets based on plants and strong social connections.
Here are 5 simple secrets to a long and healthy life, inspired by people living in the “blue zones” of the world, according to the study “Blue zones, the longest lessons in the world”, published at the National Library of Medicine
Move
People in the blue areas do not depend on the gymnasiums or intense training sessions to stay in shape. Instead, their daily life is full of natural movements. They often walk, garden, do household work by hand and use minimum modern amenities. This constant and gentle activity keeps them physically active without needing to “do exercise” in the traditional sense. Their environments are designed to encourage constant movements by walking, which supports health, mobility and joint force in old age, which makes a big difference over time.
Have the goal
Knowing why you wake up every day can add years to your life. In Okinawa, this concept is called Ikigai, and Nicoya, it’s Vida’s plan. Both mean having a clear goal or objective that brings meaning to its daily routine. Whether it is to take care of the family, take a hobby or contribute to the well-being of those who take place, this sense of management helps people to remain mentally and emotionally balanced. The research published in Science Daily shows that people with a strong sense of objective have about 20% risk of lower death over seven years.
Manage stress through daily routines
Even people in the healthiest regions in the world experience stress, but they have found simple ways to manage it. Residents of blue areas have daily rituals to reduce tensions, such as nap, prayer, reflection on ancestors or social collection. These small habits help reduce stress hormones and inflammation, which are both linked to chronic diseases. Rather than letting stress accumulate, they regularly devote downtime. This keeps their mind clear, their body calms down and contributes to emotional stability which supports a longer and healthier life.
Eat up to 80%
People in the blue areas don’t eat too much. In Okinawa, they follow a 2,500 year old man by saying “Hara Hachi bu”, which reminds them to stop eating when their stomach is 80%. This helps prevent weight gain and digestive problems. They also tend to eat their last and small meal at the end of the afternoon or early evening and to avoid snacking later. By maintaining the control of the portions and listening to the signals of their body, they naturally reduce the calorie contribution, which is also one of the most effective ways to slow down aging and prolong life.
Focus on plant-based diets
Centenarians in blue areas mainly eat plant -based foods. Their meals are rich in beans like black, fava, soybeans and lenses, as well as vegetables, whole grains and nuts. The meat is rarely consumed, generally sometimes a month a month, and in small portions, roughly the size of a card game. This “plant slant” diet provides essential nutrients, promotes intestinal health and helps reduce the risk of chronic diseases.Photos: Canva
