Moves for Seniors Blog

Did you know there are certain areas of the world where people tend to live longer, healthier lives? These particular parts of the globe are called Blue Zones, studied intensively by National Geographic Society researcher Dan Buettner. All Blue Zones have six features in common:

1. Blue Zones contain cultural environments that support and, in some cases, enforce healthy habits.
2. There must be evidence of healthy social relationships within these areas, which in turn, promote positive psychological health.
3. There are always gardeners in Blue Zones!
4. There is a societal sense of collaboration and cooperation.
5. Access to public healthcare is a must.
6. Elderly citizens of each Blue Zone are cherished by both their families and community.

Here are the top five Blue Zones where people tend to live the longest.

1. Okinawa, Japan: In Okinawa, 740 citizens out of 1.3 million are have reached age 100 and over. This is due to exercise, access to sunlight and an extremely nutritious diet. Also, Okinawa culture constitutes that its citizens “eat until they are 80% full” instead of eating until – well, until they can’t stuff themselves any more. Okinawans also have a strong sense of community.
2. Sardinia, Italy: An island off the coast of continental Italy, Sardinians adopt a strict Mediterranean diet, schedule out time to relax, exercise often and as a result, are able to maintain a positive outlook on life.
3. Loma Linda, California: The majority of people who live Loma Linda adopt a vegetarian diet. This is because about 9,000 citizens identify religiously as Seventh-Day Adventists, a religious denomination that promotes vegetarianism and warns against smoking and drinking.
4. Nicoya, Costa Rica: In Nicoya, men who are at age 60 have twice the chance of reaching the age of 90 than your average American male. On top of that, citizens of Nicoya have the lowest rates of getting cancer than any other part of Costa Rica. Why? Because Nicoya culture promotes a lifestyle full of physical activity and deep spirituality, complete with a nutritious diet and at least eight hours of sleep every night.
5. Ikaria, Greece: This particular part of Greece has been known to be a hub for the healthy. Citizens of Ikaria still farm and fish often, and make a point of maintaining active social lives. Their diet consists mostly of greens and their drink of choice is tea.