Researchers tried for years to solve the puzzle of long age that some centenarians enjoy in different places around the world. Depending on data analysis, the scientists observed some possible reasons for long age and figured out that the most important secrets lay in adopting a healthy and natural lifestyle.
The theory of blue zones
At the turn of the third millennium, the Italian epidemiologist “Gianni Pes” and the Belgian demographer Michael Poulin” coined the term “Blue Zone” to refer to areas where people live longer than the average in the rest of the world.
And after a while, the American journalist “Dan Potner”, the author of the book “The Blue Zones: Secrets for Living Longer”, joined them. In his book, he takes us to five communities where the highest number of centenarians ever on earth is present. They are: Sardinia in Italy, Ikaria in Greece, Nicoya in Costa Rica, Okinawa in Japan, and Loma Linda in California, USA.
The American journalist attributed the reasons for long age inside those areas to a combination of community habits, lifestyle and diet. When studying the lifestyles of the inhabitants of the blue zones, it will easily become clear that they include similar features, most of which are based on sustainable methods and practices that respect nature.
Here are some Blue Zone-inspired ways and habits that are good for your health and the environment:
1- Diet
The centenarians in these areas depend on a sustainable natural diet that contains a lot of fruits, vegetables, beans, herbs, olive oil, fishes and little animal based food.
Focusing on local crops available in the surrounding environment, the basic principle for these centenarians is to eat small amounts and stop eating when they feel 80% full, which keeps them away from obesity and heart disease and reduces household food waste, which is estimated at about 74 kg per person annually, which wastes a third of food worldwide, according to the United Nations Environment Program’s Food Waste Index report.
2-Physical activity
Movement is a key factor in longevity. They stay active but in natural and eco-friendly ways, such as gardening, walking and cycling.
Instead of lying on chairs or sofas, you can take inspiration from the approach of the Japanese Okinawans who spend more time on the floor, either sitting or in a squatting position, in order to achieve better balance and flexibility for their bodies, and improve the health of the spine.
You can add movement to your daily routine by doing activities that benefit nature, such as planting your backyard garden. A garden motivates you to weed, water, and harvest plants.
You can also reduce your carbon footprint by hiking, just like the elderly Italians who keep fit by walking and climbing stairs and paths in the mountain villages where they live, which makes them full of energy.
3-Short nap
In the midst of busy days, it is common to have a cup of coffee to regain energy and focus, but this is contrary to the mentality of the residents of the Blue Zones, who prefer to slow down the pace of life and reduce the speed in order to recharge energy.
Instead of drinking caffeine, take a short nap for not more than 20 min in the afternoon. It is a life habit for the people of the Nicoya region who tend to stay up very late, due to the high temperatures, and because they wake up late, a midday nap has become very logical and useful.
Napping is an ancient tradition, and although modern life is pushing this habit to near extinction, the latest scientific studies show that a 20-minute nap can compensate for an hour of sleep.
Napping helps you stay alert for the rest of the day, and it's a sustainable practice, as it doesn't consume agricultural land or water, and doesn't release emissions during its production, unlike coffee and tea crops.
4- The philosophy of communicating with nature and enjoying life
The five Blue Zones are blessed with stunning views of valleys, mountains, sea and open spaces, all of which prolong life, increase connection with nature and thus respect and preserve it.
Enjoying everything, even food, Sardinians make sure to share cooking with the family and take the time to enjoy the sounds of chopping vegetables and the smells; they consider the dining table a place of enjoyment, which increases their sense of happiness and psychological satisfaction.
Studies have shown that eating away from TV and technology helps people eat more moderately and consciously, reducing the consumption of food crops threatened by climate change.
The bottom line is that the exceptional longevity of Blue Zone residents is a combination of several factors, but overall it depends on sustainability, a love of nature, and restoring mental calm, all of which are easy habits that can become part of our daily lifestyle.
