Book Review: “Blue Zones”
I recently read “The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who’ve Lived the Longest” by Dan Buettner. It’s not a recent release - it was actually published in March 2008. I had come across the title from time to time over the years, and decided to get a copy to find out what this was all about.
Dan Buettner is a National Geographic Explorer who travelled the globe to uncover the life strategies of some of the longest lived peoples. He went to places known for high percentages of people enjoying long, full lives. Places like Sardinia, Costa Rica, Okinawa, and Loma Linda, California. In the book he shares his adventures of meeting centenarians (people over the age of 100) the world over.
Amazon has this to say about the book: “His prescriptions for lifestyle, nutrition, outlook, and stress-coping practices will add years to your life and life to your years…A long, healthy life is no accident. It begins with good genes, but it also depends on good habits. If you adopt the right lifestyle, experts say, chances are you may live up to a decade longer. Buettner has led teams of researchers across the globe to uncover the secrets of Blue Zones. He found that the recipe for longevity is deeply intertwined with community, lifestyle, and spirituality. People live longer and healthier by embracing a few simple but powerful habits, and by creating the right community around themselves….It's not coincidence that the way they eat, interact with each other, shed stress, heal themselves, avoid disease, and view their world yield them more good years of life. Buettner's easy to follow "best practices" and list of healthy lifestyle choices from the Blue Zones will empower readers to live longer, healthier, more fulfilling lives.”
I enjoyed the book and appreciated the amount of effort involved in travelling to these destinations to interview centenarians and learn what their secrets are. Interestingly, while there are some differences among the people from these Blue Zones, all of them had these things in common: those who enjoyed old age were part of something larger than themselves - they had a purpose in their lives and were part of a community that gets together regularly and has fun. They stayed active all their lives, still walking and gardening into their 100’s. They did not stress much. And they ate their vegetables!
In fact, the nine healthy lifestyle habits that help these people live longer, healthier lives are:
Move naturally - you don’t need a gym to get moving, naturally. Walking, gardening, taking stairs all add up.
Know your purpose - having a “plan de vida” can add up to seven years to your life. Incorporate ways to put your skills to good use that will add meaning to your life and the lives of others.
Down Shift - Okinawans take a few moments each day to remember their ancestors, Adventists pray, the Greeks take naps and the Sardinians do happy hour. Find a stress-relieving strategy that works for you and make it a routine.
80% Rule - Hara Hachi Bu, in Okinawa, Japan means eating until you’re 80% full. They do not overstuff themselves, but rather undereat just a bit, knowing that it takes about 20 minutes for the stomach to tell the brain that it’s full.
Plant Slant - Fruits and vegetables take center stage, while meat is consumed in small amounts or on rare occasions. Beans and legumes are eaten plentifully instead. A handful of nuts every day can give you an extra 2-3 years of life!
Wine @ Five - Wine has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, certain cancers and slow the progression of neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Though you want to limit that.
Right Tribe - hang out with the right people and create social circles that nourish you. Proactively surrounding yourself with the right friends will do more to add years to your life than just about anything else!
Belong - Belonging to a faith-based community provides strong social relationships that can also add years to your life.
Loved Ones First - Happy, healthy centenarians put their families first. This can be keeping your aging parents and grandparents near you, caring for children, to being in a positive, committed relationship, all of which can add up to 6 years of life expectancy.
I highly recommend reading The Blue Zones as I think there is something we can learn from people who have been living long, healthy lives.
Mr. Buettner has also written a cookbook based off his findings and offers a Four-Week Challenge to those who need a little inspiration to get started on this path. If you end up reading any of the books, let me know what you thought.
