I’ve written about the Blue Zones a number of times. Blues Zones are parts of the world where a substantial number of the population tend to live over the 100 year mark. Dan Buettner, a former National Geographic writer who explored these regions, gave them their name, popularized the term, and wrote several books on the reasons people live longer in these areas.
I was reminded of this when I saw an article in this morning’s Washington Post, Health and Science Section, promoting a book about things other than exercise and nutrition as keys to longevity. The book is called Growing Young: How Friendship, Optimism and Kindness Can Help You Live to 100, by Marta Zaraska.I haven’t read it, but from the description, it seems to echo those longevity factors pointed out by Dan Buettner years ago.
What stands out in Dan Buettner’s Blue Zones writings, as well as reiterated in the Washington Post article, is that while Physical Movement and Eating nutritionally are the major factors in keeping you young in body and at heart, there are other factors, common to Blue Zones, that are major contributors to longevity, too.
What are they, you ask? Among those common to all the Blue Zones, are
1. Live with Purpose. Have a reason for getting up in the morning. A purposeless life is a boring life.
2. Shed the stress. Stress is one of the major contributors to aging and illness. Meditate. Become present. Take afternoon naps. All help reduce stress.
3. Wine. Most Blue Zones locations, with the exception of Loma Linda, California, consider that a glass or two of wine or alcohol beverage, taken with friends, contributes to longevity. I’ll point out that this is not a recommendation from me.
4. A sense of belonging to a community of supporters and friends. People from Blue Zones areas all seem to have a strong sense of small group community — a tight circle of friends with whom they socialize.
5. A Positive Attitude. According to the Washington Post article, a recent study found that “optimistic men and women have 11 to 15 percent longer lifespans than their counterparts. They characterized optimism as ‘a psychological resource that promotes health and longevity.’ “ Hmm, that sounds sort of like a chicken and egg thing but the reality is that positive people seem to live longer according to numerous resources I have come across. Common sense would seem to apply, too.
The point of all this is that there really are significant factors beyond Exercise and Good Food that contribute to our longevity. We should be aware of those factors and put them into practice in our own lives as we get older. Most likely, we will live longer and better if we do.
Thank you for reading.