11.12.09

Since the beginning of time, men and women have been searching for ways to extend their lives, the elusive Fountain of Youth. This is why the secrets of the now-famous "Blue Zones" are so enticing to those of us who want to increase vitality and longevity.

The Blue Zones were first discovered by Dan Buettner, a journalist working in conjunction with National Geographic, who scoured the world in search of cultures where people live the longest. He then deciphered what common lifestyle traits allowed these folks to outlive their counterparts in other parts of the world:

Already discovered Blue Zones include:

• Okinawa, Japan
• Sardinia, Italy
• Loma Linda, California, United States of America
• Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica
• Ikaria, Greece

Although all are located in far-off corners of the world, members in each location's population have a higher chance of reaching a healthy age 90 than anywhere else on earth. They also have higher percentages of centenarians, or people who've reached the age of 100.

Evidence gathered from Okinawa Blue Zone investigations revealed lifestyle characteristics that seemed to explain the islanders' extraordinary longevity. From a list of eighteen characteristics, the group ranked what they feel are the seven most important factors.

Seven Tips to Add Seven Years:

1. Live for the moment: Don't dwell on the past or fear what tomorrow may bring
2. Spend time with your parents and grandparents: Keep the generations connected. Everyone fares better.
3. Explore faith and spirituality: Make time for meditation, prayer or other spiritual practices on a regular basis.
4. Eat a rainbow of colours: Eat at least five different-colored vegetables daily: red tomatoes, spinach, and eggplant are a few examples.
5. Find a sense of purpose: Discover your "ikigai" [pronounced: ee-key-guy]: volunteer, pursue a hobby, spend time with your children or explore a new career.
6. Exercise daily: Take brisk walks, skip escalators and avoid moving sidewalks to optimize balance, strength and flexibility.
7. Live together as a couple: Live longer and better together with the person you love.

Dan Buettner says one such zone, the Italian island of Sardinia, has the highest number of male centenarians in the world, while another, Okinawa, Japan, has the longest disability-free life expectancy. In Loma Linda, California, a community of Seventh Day Adventists has a life expectancy that's nine to 11 years greater than that of other Americans. And middle-age mortality is lowest on Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula — where Buettner says middle-aged residents have about a four-fold greater chance of reaching age 90 than people in the United States do.

Start living longer today by adopting 3 or 4 of these practices, found to add life to years. Research has shown that if you can sustain a behavioural change for six weeks, you should be able to sustain it for the rest of your life. Which, as the world's centenarians have shown us, should be a long, long time!

Back To Top