Blue Zones are regions of the planet where a high proportion of people live to be over 100 years old. Here, we reveal the secretsfor living a happy, healthy and long life and how you can integrate lessonsfrom the Blue Zonesinto your own way of living.
Blue zones
Australian researcher Kale Brock explores the topic in depth in his book, The Longevity Book and documentary The Longevity Film. During his research, Brock observed four main pillars of long-living cultures: nutrition, movement, community and mindset.
Moderate ,regular physical activity
There’s very little formal exercise in the Blue Zones, but incidental exercise is a big part of daily life. Lives are set up so that people are constantly nudged into physical activity. They are consistently moving between sitting and standing, walking up and down stairs, strolling to the store orto friends’ houses. When they do participate in intentional activity it’s something they genuinely enjoy.
Mindful living
Everything is practised slowly and mindfully, leaving little room for stress. Blue Zone inhabitants are often found with a glass of wine in hand, enjoying time with family, taking an afternoon nap or generally indulging in a slower pace of living.
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The Japanese even have a word forit: ikagai. Ikagai is yourreason for waking up in the morning. People in the Blue Zones have a strong sense of purpose that they practise in their daily life, which often revolves around family and community.
Moderation
When they do eat, they tend not to overindulge. In Okinawa they have strategies for over-eating and eat only until they are 80 per cent full.
Again, moderation is key, but it’s not uncommon to find people in Blue Zones drinking a glass of wine with dinner. The Sardinians regularly enjoy a red wine rich in flavonoids, and always with friends
Faith and Community
People in Blue Zones tend to belong to a faith-based community, with strong social ties and rituals related to their religion
Engagement in social life
Belonging to a tribe that is happy and healthy, whether you are born into it or actively seek it out, is an essential pillar of long-living cultures.
Family first
There’s a big focus on family in these communities, and researchers even found a strong connection between these relationships and lowered rates of chronic illness.
