What are Blue Zones?
The concept of Blue Zones grew out of the demographic work done by Gianni Pes, MD and Ph.D. in Experimental Medicine, and Michel Poulain, Ph.D. in Migration Statistics and Longevity Studies. Both doctors caught an interest in the attributes of areas that had the healthiest centenarians. For those who may not be familiar with the term, centenarians are individuals who have reached 100 years of age. After years of research, in the Journal of Experimental Gerontology, Pes and Poulain identified Sardinia as the first region of the world with the highest concentration of male centenarians. While Pes and Poulain researched this region, they drew blue circles on the map to highlight each village of extreme longevity and began to refer to an area inside the circle as a “blue zone”. At that moment, the term “Blue Zone” was coined.
Interesting, isn’t it? Fascinated by their demographic work, Dan Buettner carried on Pes and Poulain’s research by pinpointing other longevity hotspots around the world. Dan Buettner, founder and CEO of Blue Zones LLC, is a National Geographic Fellow and multiple New York Times bestselling author. After 40 years of research, he discovered five places in the world dubbed “Blue Zones”. These places include Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece, and Loma Linda, California. These five locations statistically hold the healthiest, happiest, and longest-living individuals in the world.
So, what is the secret to living a long and healthy life? What are the people in these locations doing that the rest of the population is not? Do we all have the capability to live for 100 years or is it only for the genetically blessed?
When thinking of life expectancy, many may think the life expectancy of Americans is the lowest in the world, considering the United States has the highest rate of disease at over 60%. However, you may be happily surprised by this next piece of information. The life expectancy of an American born today averages 78.2 years, but this year alone, over 70,000 Americans have reached their 100th birthday. What are these centenarians doing that the average American isn’t? Are they also following the Blue Zone secret to living a long and healthy life?
These questions finally have answers as Blue Zones’ extensive research exposed patterns within the habits of all centenarians, no matter their genetic background, region, or culture. Blue Zones calls these habits the “Blue Zones Power 9”. The Blue Zones Power 9 are considered the nine habits of the world’s healthiest and longest-living individuals.
What are the Blue Zones Power 9?
Blue Zones Power 9:
- Move Naturally – Living in environments that constantly nudge an individual into movement. (i.e. gardening, shepherding, walking to markets, and using manual strength for house and yard work.)
- Have Purpose – Knowing or creating a life purpose.
- Downshift – Creating a routine to shed daily stress. (i.e. remembering their ancestors, praying, meditating, taking a nap, or enjoying happy hour.)
- 80% rule – Stop eating when their stomachs are 80 percent full.
- Plant Slant – Plant-based proteins are the cornerstone of their diets. (i.e. lentils, fava beans, soy, and black beans. Meats, mostly pork, are eaten an average of 5 times a month.)
- Wine @ 5 – Drinking alcohol moderately and regularly. (i.e. 1-2 glasses of wine a day with food.)
- Belong – Attending faith-based services four times per month.
- Loved Ones First – Putting family first. (i.e. keeping aging parents and grandparents nearby, committing to a life partner, and investing in their children with time and love.)
- Right Tribe – Creating a social circle that supports healthy behaviors.
While some of us may already be doing these nine habits that lengthen life, some may be doing only a few. For those of us who aren’t checking all the boxes, is it too late to start living longer? The answer is no!
Scientists and the Blue Zones Project have taken these Power 9 into communities that are the most in need of a lifestyle change. Once they’ve done so, incredible results are seen!
Here is one very moving testament to the effects of the Power 9 when brought into needing communities:
“Albert Lea, MN – This Midwestern city had high smoking rates and low activity levels. They climbed out of a health and economic crisis with projected lifespans increased by nearly 3 years. This also included $7.5 million in savings in annual health care costs for employers and 2.9 years added to lifespans within one year of participating in the Blue Zones Project.” – The Blue Zones Project
If the Blue Zones Project and the Power 9 can help Albert Lea, Mn, then they can help your community, too. In fact, OMNI’s community of Naples, FL is currently working hard to becoming a Blue Zone! Since 2015, the Blue Zones Project of Southwest Florida has been working to make Collier County, Bonita Springs, and Estero healthier, happier places to live. Partnered with over 780 restaurants, schools, workplaces, churches, and homeowner’s associations, The Blue Zones Project has been very successful in Collier County. Over 79% of the community is now considered to be “thriving” based on the Blue Zones standards for healthy living.
Though aging is unavoidable, the Blue Zones Project is here to show us that becoming healthy and aging well is possible for everyone when following the Power 9. Can you imagine being active, happy, healthy, and 102 years old surrounded by everyone you hold dear? The Blue Zones Project is here to help make that happen.
Because we share the same vision for our Naples community, OMNI Balanced Life Center is proud to be an official Blue Zones Project Approved Organization by providing services that help many increase their quality and length of life!
See our List of Services and Schedule An Appointment now!
References:
America’s Calling For Community Wellbeing. (2023). Blue Zones. https://www.bluezones.com/community/#section-2
Buettner, D. (2002). The Power 9. Blue Zones. https://www.bluezones.com/2016/11/power-9/
Buettner, D., Frates, B., Skemp, S. (2016). Blue Zones. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6125071/
Greenberg, L. (2022). Your Healthy Family: What Blue Zones Project data says about Southwest Florida. Fox 4 News. https://www.fox4now.com/brand-spotlight/your-healthy-family/your-healthy-family-what-blue-zones-project-data-says-about-southwest-florida
