Once upon a time, there was a land of beauty, where people lived as one with nature. Their lives were long and joyful. They had all they needed and lived without want. If you’re interested, Dan Buettner, author of The Blue Zones, can tell you where that not-so mythical place, or more like places, can be found.
What are Blue Zones, you ask? They are the places in the world that have the most people living in good health over the age of 100.
I read Dan Buettner’s book about these locations some time ago. I incorporated a number of the longevity suggestions but may have let a few go by the wayside over the years. You know how life gets away from you.
I’m a fan of refresher courses now and again, so was happy to see a documentary had been created around the information in the book. Now a new generation can learn all about it in “Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones”.
Dan Buettner has been very busy in the 20 years since his book was first published. He has learned so much more since then. In this four-part series he takes you around the world on a visit to the original Blue Zones sharing what he’s learned.
Your first stop is Okinawa, Japan, home to the community with the highest number of “longest-lived” people on earth. Umeto Yamashiro, age 100, Toyo Ota, age 94, are just a couple of the vibrant seniors you will meet.
They are all active and contributing to the community. Okinawans don’t believe in retirement in the traditional sense. They believe in ikigai, which is “what you contribute to the world” according to Haramasa Mekaru. At age 87, he still sits cross-legged on the floor creating his art. If you don’t think that’s a big deal, trying getting down onto the floor and up again without assistance, in less that a minute.
The next stop on the tour is Sardinia, Italy. They have 10 times more centenarians than in similar communities here in the United States. They walk everywhere, which is quite a statement as the village is situated on a picturesque, but steep mountainside.
The world over, typically women outlive men. However, in Sardinia, they boast the highest concentration of male centenarians in the world. Gino Locci, age 93, is an example of why men there are so long-lived. They let go of stress quickly by handling the situation and moving on. That is vastly different to Americans who often live in a chronic state of stress.
You’ll next take a quick bounce back to the U.S. to visit Loma Linda, California. It is the location of a community that puts great store by physical activity and healthy eating.
Loma Linda is made up of members of the Adventist Church. They value volunteering and spending time with people in which they hold much in common. Ernest Zane, age 95, was still a practicing doctor of ophthalmology. He and his wife Dorothy, age 89, will take you on a tour of the community. You’ll see how they support one another in work and play. They also spend time having a literal day of rest each week.
Time to hop across the ocean again. This time to Ikaria, Greece, an island completely separated from the mainland. Only since 1980 have they begun to import packaged food from off-island.
Young at heart, seniors like George Stenos, Sr. age 90, Panagiotis Louloulias, 96, and his wife Aleka Mazari, age 81, eat the same diet that generations before them did. Two staples of the island are herbal teas, and Ikarian wine.
They are a joyful people whose younger generations care about and preserve the traditions of the island. Each generation takes care of the ones before and after them. They believe in getting together often to enjoy music and dancing.
The final stop in the original Blue Zones tour is in Nicoya, Costa Rica. You can’t help but be impressed with Dora Bustos, age 102, who still grinds her own corn for tortillas by hand. Another venerated community member is Ramiro Guadamuz. At age 100 he is still a cowboy herding cattle. Though these days he has backed his hours off to working half days.
The people of Nicoya generally practice doing all the hard work in the morning. They then rest in the later afternoon enjoying time with friends and family. Their diet is simple but plentiful and gives them all the nutrition needed to keep their bodies strong.
Now for the sad news…
The original Blue Zones are shrinking. Modern conveniences and processed food sources are taking over more and more of their territory. What will happen if they become extinct?
Dan Buettner is not about to let that happen. He is still learning from the eldest and healthiest people throughout the world. He is now on a mission to create so many Blue Zones that they all come together and create a happier and healthier world.
In 2009, Dan Buettner worked with the community of Albert Lea, Minnesota, helping them transform their town into a Blue Zone. Within a year, residents had added 3.1 years of productive and enjoyable life expectancy through lifestyle changes.
Dan Buettner has begun traveling again, finding new health-focused communities while continuing to create them in the U.S. He found the city of Singapore now has a healthier life expectancy than anywhere else in the world.
The government of this city supports and advocates for the health of their citizens. They advocate with programs like subsidizing brown rice over white rice, and creating 350 parks throughout the city.
Two programs have made a world of difference in the community. One is the taxes on cars and the right to drive. Vehicles cost upwards of $250,000, and the “Right to Drive” tax is in the 6-figure range as well. Less traffic means healthier lungs, which are exhibited by Ng Bakia, 77, and Mgai Hin Kwik, 71, who exercise in the parks every day.
The second program is the Proximity Housing Grant. It promotes parents and adult children living near each other to provide help and care across multiple generations. The families are given a grant to help them buy apartments near one another. There are no nursing homes in Singapore.
This is a big difference from how we live in the U.S. In 1922, 70% of widowed spouses lived with family. Fast forward to today, where that same number live alone. Many will end their days in nursing homes. If other places in the world can produce such robust seniors, and families that look after one another, we should be able to as well.
Take the trip around the world with Dan Buettner. It is a worthwhile adventure. He’ll share how moving naturally, outlook on life, eating well, and staying connected can make impressive changes to your life. Just choosing to make one or two of those changes could pay off in extending health and happiness long beyond your expectations.
To get all the helpful tips and ideas, you’ll want to give the 4-episode series on Netflix a watch. I’ve viewed it twice now and am still picking up great tips. Each of the episodes is about 40 minutes long. You’ll have no problem binge-watching in an evening or two.
Imagine transforming our country into its own Blue Zone, where we all live in great health throughout our lives. By watching this series and incorporating the wisdom of these energetic and vital centenarians, we can take steps toward that goal.
We’d love to hear what you take away from the program and how it helps improve your life. Drop us a line in the comments.
Comments