As we grow up, some become more conscious of changing their lifestyle and even making significant changes to improve their diet and take life slowly in order to prevent diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. You don’t want to change just to be young forever, but to be as healthy as you can.
That’s how writer and explorer Dan Buettner spent more than a decade researching various locations to identify longevity hotspots around the world.
Thanks to the National Geographic Society’s support, the restless Buettner found areas with a concentration of people that are over 100 years old and even groups of individuals who have aged without health problems such as heart disease, obesity, cancer or diabetes.
According to Dan Buettner’s research, these places were named ‘blue zones’ and these are: Ikaria (Greece), Sardinia (Italy), Nicoya (Costa Rica), Loma Linda (USA) and Okinawa (Japan).
But the question would be, what happens in these places that make people so long-lived?
Ikaria (Greece): This Aegean island, located 8 miles off the Turkish Coast, has one of the world’s lowest rates of mortality and dementia in middle age.
Research indicates that one of the reasons for longevity here is related to the traditional Mediterranean diet, rich in vegetables and healthy fats and less dairy and meat products.
Sardinia (Italy): The mountainous highlands of this Italian island have the highest concentration of centenarian men in the world.
Their diet is low in protein, good carbohydrates, sourdough bread, spaghetti and minestrone, which has significantly allowed the population to have the lowest rates of diabetes, cancer and death under the age of 65.
Nicoya (Costa Rica): In this region of Central America, the inhabitants have the lowest middle-aged mortality rate in the world and the second highest concentration of centenarian men.
The secret to their long lives lies in large part in a strong religious community, deep social networks and healthy daily dietary habits as well as regular low-intensity physical activity.
Loma Linda (USA): This U.S. community has the highest concentration of Seventh-day Adventists and some of its residents live 10 years healthier than the average American by following a biblical diet based on grains, fruits, vegetables and nuts.
In addition to their religiosity, they are also known for serving the community and having groups of friends with whom they engage in sports and other social activities.
Okinawa (Japan): This island in Japan has the longest-living women on the planet. Their diet is based on Okinawan sweet potatoes, soybeans, mugwort, turmeric and gova (bitter melon). They keep themselves active by “working” in their orchards or gardens and maintaining a network of friends to support them.
The researcher found that these ‘blue zones’ have characteristics that define a healthy but not so demanding lifestyle that allows its inhabitants to outlive the age many of us would like to reach. Among the most common features of these zones are:
- People move naturally, i.e., they walk. They do not use cars.
- They have a life purpose, call it a life plan; a motivation to get up every day.
- They handle stress. It’s not that they don’t feel it, but they have learned to control situations calmly and wisely.
- They do not overeat, but finish eating when they feel at 80 percent of what they can ingest.
- Their diets are based on vegetables that they usually grow themselves.
- Alcohol consumption is moderate.
- Their social circles are mutually supportive and they engage in sports, religious activities, and community and altruistic work.
- Family life is paramount.
The good news for us is that, although our country is not in a blue zone, life expectancy has increased in the last three years.
According to a study conducted by the OECD, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Colombia is among the countries where life expectancy has increased compared to 2000 and 2023, going from 71 years to 77 years.
The OECD emphasizes that it has been thanks to greater access to drinking water, health systems and medical care. The main objective of the organization is to promote policies that favor prosperity, equality, opportunities and well-being for all people.
From his research, Buettner concludes that chronic diseases are proven to be rare in these areas. The adventurer points out that: “About 80 percent of our longevity is determined by disease, so lifestyle and environment are key to securing the remaining 20 percent.”
However, we live in societies where stress reigns; poor eating habits, sedentary lifestyles, self-imposed loneliness, excessive consumption of alcohol and drugs are just some of the factors that augur an early death.
The secret of these blue zones is simple: there is no secret. They are places where people walk more than what they drive, eat more plants than meat in a diet that includes beans, corn and pumpkin, and especially, family is their reason for being; it is number one on their list of priorities.
Your lifestyle does not require a great effort or a radical change that will allow you to become healthy and #sinrecato elders; everything comes down to moderation at the end.
Traducción del español: Catalina Oviedo Brugés
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