Blue Zones Explained

Ever heard of Blue Zones? What the heck are they anyway?

I’ve been learning about them lately. Very fascinating stuff! To start with, here is the official mission statement and their values from their website.

“Informed and inspired by the world’s longest-lived cultures, we help people live longer, better lives by improving their environment...

• We believe that routine natural movement throughout the day contributes to longevity.

• We believe that a plant-slant diet leads to a longer, healthier life.

• We believe that relationships with family, friends, and people of faith lengthen lifespans.

• We believe that a strong sense of purpose in life leads to longevity.”

National Geographic journalist Dan Buettner spent years studying each culture, pinpointing the exact reasons why they thrived before publishing his findings in the best selling book, The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who’ve Lived the Longest. Buettner found that despite the geographical differences, people living in the Blue Zones all had nine key lifestyle habits in common, which he named the “Power 9.” 

In the US, the average life expectancy is 78 years. But there are a few places in the world—specifically Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; and Icaria, Greece—where living to be over 100 isn’t uncommon at all. In these regions, known as Blue Zones, the life expectancy isn’t just higher; centenarians are generally healthy, their minds and bodies still working well.

Power of 9 lifestyle habits:

(If you are viewing on your phone try turning your phone to landscape position to see slideshow captions)

They have now applied the tenets of the Blue Zones in over 40 cities throughout the U.S., significantly improving health and lowering healthcare costs. They use an innovative, systematic, environmental approach to well-being that optimizes policy, urban and building design and social networks. 

You can learn more about their projects, take a longevity test, a happiness test, even sign up for the Blue Zones life challenge on their website. They have meal planners and recipes!

I have been saying a lot of these same things in my previous blog posts. Now you don’t have to just take my word for it! There is science behind it!

Want to know how to get more plants into your diet?

Want to find a healthy, supportive community of like-minded people? Watch this.

Let’s start our own Blue Zones type community right here! Let’s connect and talk about how we can impact those closest to us, the ones we love and want to spend the most time with! If I can live to be 100 as a happy and healthy member of my family and community, I’m all in!  In fact, I am already well on my way! Want to join me?