Human life is so precious! Globally, the average life span is around 71 years; however for a few lucky people, it may even exceed 100 years. What are the secrets to longevity? Let’s see.
Following a healthy lifestyle is a must! On average, men who followed a healthy lifestyle lived six years longer, and women five years longer, as compared to those who did not follow such a lifestyle.
What you will learn
The Secrets to Longevity
What are Blue Zones?
A few places in the world are called “Blue Zones.”
The term refers to specific geographic areas in which people have low rates of chronic disease and live longer as compared to the people living in other areas.
In this article, you will come to know about the common lifestyle features of people in Blue Zones, including why they live longer.
So, Let’s Start –
What parts of the world are the blue zones in?
- Icaria (Greece): Icaria is an island in Greece where people eat a healthy diet. This rich diet generally includes rich in olive oil, red wine and home-grown vegetables.
- Ogliastra, Sardinia (Italy): The Ogliastra region of Sardinia is definitely home to some of the oldest men in the world. They live in mountainous regions where they normally work on farms and drink lots of red wine.
- Okinawa (Japan): Okinawa is another home to the world’s oldest women, who eat a lot of soy-based foods and also practice some meditation and other forms of exercise in daily routine to stay healthy.
- Nicoya Peninsula (Costa Rica): The Nicoyan diet is based around beans and corn tortillas. Physical activity is a must! The natives of this area regularly perform physical jobs even into old age to stay healthy.
- The Seventh-day Adventists in Loma Linda, California (USA): The Seventh-day Adventists are a very religious group of people. They’re having a very particular diet including vegetables and live in specific tight-knit communities.
What do these five zones have in common?
The answer is very simple – People living in these areas follow a healthy diet and lifestyle.
People in the blue zones eat a great variety of garden vegetables when they are in season.
The best-of-the-best longevity foods are leafy green vegetables such as spinach, kale, beet and turnip tops, chard, and collards. Combined with seasonal fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and beans dominate blue zone meals all year long.
Many oils derived from local plants, and preferred animal-based fats are their go-to food. Olive oil is one of the healthy plant-based oils, and it is most often used in the blue zones. Studies show that olive oil consumption increases good cholesterol and lowers bad cholesterol! Moreover, people in four of the five blue zones consume meat, which is also the reason that they consume good amounts of protein.
The kinds of things these areas offer that may be the secrets to longevity
- Seasonal fruits & vegetables (rich in fiber)
- Healthy diet & lifestyle
- Physical workout
- Meditation
- Legumes (peas, beans)
- Whole grains
- Nuts
All in all, if you also want to stay healthy, take inspiration from these natives and follow a healthy routine from today onwards!