“Blue Zones” are specific geographic locations where the human population has a significantly longer life expectancy than the global average. It’s a non-scientific term which is steadily gaining attention since the early 2000s. A 2004 Science Direct report on age research highlighted results indicating a specific area on the Italian island of Sardinia that had a much higher than normal population of centenarians (individuals who have reached the age of 100). While the specific research data was “sketchy”, it couldn’t be ignored:
National Geographic contributor Dan Buettner and other researchers followed up on these initial findings and identified five longevity hotspots, one of them being a Sardinian village (reference: Live Science article below):
- Ogliastra, Sardinia: A region of an Italian island in the Mediterranean
- Okinawa: An island off the coast of Japan
- Nicoya Peninsula: A peninsula in eastern Costa Rica
- The Seventh-day Adventists community in Loma Linda, California
- Icaria: A small Greek island in the Aegean sea
What are ‘Blue Zones,’ and do they really hold the secrets to a longer life? | Live Science
Buettner has turned his work into a lifelong effort with follow-on studies, several documentaries available on streaming services, a highly active website and a concerted effort to practically apply his findings through Blue Zone partnership teams:
Home – Live Better, Longer – Blue Zones
Buettner highlights nine common features of Blue Zones (see Live Science link above):
Physical activity: Blue Zone centenarians maintain high levels of physical activity and frequently engage in manual labor. For example, Sardinia’s community of shepherds is known to walk more than 5 miles (8 kilometers) a day.
Purpose: Okinawans call it “ikigai,” and Nicoyans call it “plan de vida,” both of which convey the idea “why I wake up in the morning.” This sense of purpose is deemed to be the source of life satisfaction, which contributes to a longer and happier life.
Sleep: Blue Zones centenarians prioritize rest and sleep. For example, Ikarians are known to take midafternoon naps, while the Loma Linda community recognizes the Sabbath, or a day of rest and worship, once a week.
The 80% rule: People living in Blue Zones do not tend to overeat. The name of the rule stems from an old Okinawan mantra spoken before meals, which reminds people to stop eating when their stomachs are 80% full (McCrabb comment- Not sure how that metric is measured).
Plant-based diet: The diet of Blue Zone centenarians is based largely on plants.
Moderate alcohol consumption: Buettner believed that moderate alcohol consumption of some Blue Zone centenarians contributed to their long life span.
Sense of community: Strong community ties promote longevity, according to Buettner. For example, Okinawans are known to create secure social networks that provide financial and emotional support to the community members.
Loved ones first: Strong family ties are the cornerstone of Blue Zones communities. For example, the Seventh Day Adventists live in tight-knit communities where children take care of their aging parents.
Social encouragement: Blue Zones centenarians live in social networks that promote healthy behaviors, thus making it easier to stick to a healthy lifestyle, Buettner suggested.
Taking a scientific approach to these current conclusions will not add to their credibility, but then again, do we have to have fully-documented, peer-reviewed, scientifically-supported evidence (with control groups, etc.) over an extended period to believe in Buettner’s conclusions? Evidently not. More than 75 U.S. communities are embracing at least parts of his business development programs based on his research.
Check out one of his Blue Zone documentaries as they are entertaining, to say the least. If you want to learn more, check out his website listed above.