If you’ve never heard this phrase, it refers to the areas in the world where people live the longest. Some of the top locations are Okinawa, Japan, Sardinia, Italy, Ikaria, Greece and Nicoya, Costa Rica.
In 2010, Dan Buettner wrote the first of many books about Blue Zones. If you want to see some of these incredible women and men, there are a series of videos on YouTube called “Centenarian Rules of Life.” It is impossible to watch them and not be inspired.
Over the years, many studies have been done on centenarians, globally. Initially, it was thought that their longevity was mostly determined by genetics but it turns out that genetics accounts for only 30% of this phenomenon. 70% is determined by their environment.
Surprisingly, there are people 100 years old and older, who are in good health, do not take any medications, are able to walk well alone and still have purpose in their lives. These are some of the ingredients to the recipe for living a better and longer life.
Centenarians have very strong social connections. They get out and have fun on a regular basis. In Okinawa, they consider life after retirement as their second life, an opportunity to do all the things they couldn’t do while employed.
There is a cultural tradition in Blue Zones of honoring the elders. The ones who thrive, do so because they are respected and recognized for their wisdom. When people seek their counsel, it builds their self-confidence. Another cultural tradition in many of the blue zones is the tendency for elders to live with family, which means that they are constantly surrounded by people and part of all activities. They are not isolated. As a result, these super seniors know they are very loved. Despite their age, they still contribute to daily routines by gardening, cleaning, cooking or watching children. Having loving connections and purpose in life significantly increases mental, emotional and physical health.
Many Centenarians are vegetarian. They eat foods high in fiber and eat small meals several times a day. In Okinawa, they honor the 80% rule, which refers to not eating until full. They stop eating when they’re 80% full.
The Sardinians do not seem to follow this pattern. They eat pasta almost every day, occasionally have meat, eat bread and cheese and drink wine. Their biggest meal is at lunch; their evening meal is much smaller.
Moving the body and exercising is key. What’s interesting to note is that many of the Blue Zones are in mountainous regions, which means that they’ve had a lifetime of exercise while doing their chores and routines. In Nicoya, Francesca Costillo who is 107, shared that when she was in her 90s, she visited her relatives, walking up to 9 miles each time!
Some other common threads in Blue Zones are that people are positive, they love life and tend to be spiritual. It is worth noting that these places have mild climates. They have no winter.
A very important component to living well is keeping their minds stimulated by learning new things. In Ikaria, Joanna Proyu, a 103 year old, walks uphill everyday by herself with her walker, to work on her loom in her studio. At the age of 95, she started teaching her skill.
In Nicoya, Jose Gutierrez, a 105 year old, can remember people and events from 95 years ago. Jose Pissarro, a 104 year old, reads newspapers without glasses and is able to walk well by himself, using a cane.
Ikarians do not rush, they do not wear watches or let time govern their actions. Shop owners are known to open their businesses whenever they get around to it! These people have made very clear choices about how they want to live.
Ikarians celebrate every chance they can get and have been known to create new festivals just so they can get together to sing, dance, socialize, laugh, have fun and eat good food. They consciously choose to leave their worries at home. Living a stress free life is another component of living long.
Perhaps the greatest wisdom comes from Okinawans. They have a mindset of self help and a philosophy called Ikigai, which refers to having something in your life that fulfills you and brings you joy. It is believed that the main constituent of Okinawan long life is being part of a Moai. It is a lifelong circle of friends, which becomes a second family. Each person makes a commitment to each other. Moais meet on a regular basis to catch up on life, socialize and offer emotional, social and spiritual support to each other, if needed. Some have lasted 95 years!
Klazuko Manna, an Okinawan elder, sums it up very nicely. “It’s much easier going through life knowing there is a safety net.” The bottom line is that these Golden Elders choose to see life through a very unique and beautiful lens. Perhaps we should all pay rapt attention to their wisdom!