9 Tips for Living Well and Staying Well: Secrets from the Blue Zones

Have you ever wondered if living well truly leads to longevity?  And what does “living well” really mean?

I have often asked myself these same questions. And I have found these questions especially intriguing as I have worked the last 10 years in senior living. Why do some folks I encounter seem so vibrant and spry in their 80’s and even 90’s when others struggle and seem to be on a quicker decline?

I thought back to a book I read several years ago called “The Blue Zones.” You may also have heard about the book and the research that led to this best seller about areas where people lived longer and had better health into their older years.The book, in a nutshell, is all about where the healthiest older people live in the world, and why they seem to live so long.  These fortunate individuals, many of them centenarians (those 100 years old or more) also grow older without the all too common health problems such as heart disease, obesity, cancer, or diabetes.  Dan Buettner is the founder of Blue Zones, an organization that helps Americans live a longer and healthier lifestyle   His groundbreaking work led to a National Geographic cover story in 2005, titled “Secrets of Living Longer” and then to the publishing of his best-selling book.

Blue Zones are described as areas where people live longer, better, and without pills, surgery, or medications.  So how can we live longer lives and reach our “golden years” with fewer diseases and active lifestyles filled with family and friends? If you wish to seek a more concrete answer to this very question you can find a wonderful tool that is available on the Blue Zone website. Follow this link apps.bluezones.com/en/vitality to answer a few questions that could point you in the right direction to discovering your own personal improved wellness and longevity.

So where are these geographical pockets of long life?  The areas outlined in Mr. Buettner’s book are:

• Ikaria, Greece
• Okinawa, Japan
• Ogliastra Region, Sardinia
• Loma Linda, California
• Nicoya, Costa Rica

So what happens in these areas?  What are the habits and lifestyle choices of those that are blessed with such long lives?

Mr. Buettner was able to define 9 areas that he and many prominent researchers, in conjunction with the National Institute on Aging, have found to be most impactful when it comes to aging well and contributing to a “healthier” old age.

Many of us are aware of some of these lifestyle habits, but some may surprise you!  The nine lifestyle areas areas, which can be adapted for every stage of life, are:

1. Moderate, physical activity 
2. Life Purpose 
3. Stress Reduction 
4. Moderate Calorie intake
5. Plant-based Diet
6. Moderate Alcohol intake, especially wine
7. Engagement in Spirituality or Religion
8. Engagement in Family Life
9. Engagement in Social life

This is a simple but profound list that can help you personally create a Blue Zone within your own environment.  For more information on how to begin these lifestyle changes and habits, as well as learn more about them specifically please visit the Blue Zone website at bluezones.com.

This website is full of great articles, research and even healthy recipes to try. Ask yourself, do I  deserve to take some time to learn more about how to live better and live longer? Centenarians in all 5 Blue Zones  enjoyed much lower rates of chronic disease, including dementia.  We all deserve to live the longest and best life we can.