LONGEVITY HOT SPOTS — Highest Life Expectancy In The World
Women live longer in Okinawa than anywhere in the world
National Geographic Feature
It helps to have good genes, but that's less than 30% of the equation. The other 70% is up to us. If you adopt the right lifestyle, experts say, chances are you may me be able to live up to a decade longer. So what's the formula for adding another 10 years? In recent years researchers have traveled the globe to find the secrets to a long life. Funded in part by the U.S. National Institute on Aging, scientists have focused on several regions where people live significantly longer. They call these "longevity hot spots" the blue zones.
A Blue Zone is a "longevity oasis" and the people who live there have the longest life expectancies on earth. There are only five official Blue Zones in the entire world and they are located in regions of different countries where people commonly live active lives past the age of 100. It took several years of research for scientists and demographers to find and classify these longevity hot-spots because each required intense study to determine the healthy traits and life practices they had in common that caused them to lead healthier and happier lives. Dan Buettner wrote a book about the Blue Zones and if you're into longevity it is a must read.
"The secret of good health is to move," says 88-year-old Hoei Tabaru, who keeps in shape by biking through his village on the island of Okinawa which is a blue zone. Spearing octopus from the sea and picking vegetables in his garden help him stay fit too. Tabaru, who has never driven a car, hopes modern technology will not transform island life. "The world is too easy today," he says, "at least for an old man like me." National Geographic's Study
Vegetarian meal in Sardinia, Italy
Only one of the Blue Zones is located in the United States. It was found when researchers, who were studying a group of Seventh-day Adventists in Loma Linda, California, discovered they suffered from a fraction of the diseases that commonly kill people in other parts of the United States and throughout the developed world. Prior to this discovery the extent of the long and healthy lives these amazing people live was not well known to the general public. Loma Linda is the home of Loma Linda University and Adventists make up the majority of the population living there. In addition to being where the Adventist Medical School is located, the university graduates one of the highest percentages of registered dieticians and nutritionists in the country.
Another Blue Zone was discovered in the mountains of Sardinia, Italy where even men reach the age of 100 at an amazing rate. The longest living women were found in Okinawa, Japan and another Blue Zone was discovered on the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica in 2007. The final Blue Zone was found on an expedition to the island of Ikaria, Greece where they have 50% lower rates of heart disease, 20% less cancer, and almost zero dementia.
Ikaraia peninsula, Greece
Among the traits they have in common are, less stress and more socializing, strong emphasis on family, fresh natural plant based diet (eat lots of beans), very little red meat, exercise daily, have a reason to get up in the morning and a strong belief in God, especially among the Adventists. Interestingly the Adventists are the only Blue Zone that is maintaining their longevity...the rest are beginning to fade way. Obesity has become a problem among the young in Okinawa and fast food has invaded Sardinia, so the faith based component appears to be a bigger factor than originally thought.
The Blue Zones have had significant national media coverage, including ABC News, World News Tonight and many more. Since Loma Linda is the only American Blue Zone, they have been singled out many times. Meet the Adventists