Health Coach Tip - Longevity Tips From The Blue Zones

Have you heard of the Blue Zones? Dan Buettner - a researcher, author and founder of the Blue Zones® - and two demographers discovered 5 places with the highest density of people who live the longest and healthiest (the so-called “Blue Zones”). These zones include:

Loma Linda, USA; Okinawa, Japan; Ikaria, Greece; Sardinia, Italy and the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica. Buettner discovered 9 common factors, The Power 9®, that explain the longevity found in these areas:

  1. Individuals in these areas move naturally - you won’t find them in a gym or competing in an ultramarathon, rather you’ll find them gardening or walking to pick up necessities.
  2. These individuals have a reason to live; they feel a sense of purpose.
  3. Individuals from each area have their own cultural stress-reduction ritual. Stress promotes disease and accelerated aging.
  4. These long-lived communities eat less; they eat until they’re 80% full.
  5. They eat mainly plant based.
  6. Most of these communities have a social ritual around drinking 1-2 glasses of wine per day. This ritual is likely beneficial due to the social aspect, as opposed to the alcohol itself, which accelerates aging.
  7. They all feel a sense of belonging, which is related to their faith.
  8. They value their families above all else.
  9. Their social circles and community roles support their longevity.

For more read the details on the BlueZones blog.

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