At the start of the new year, many of us make resolutions and set goals for the way we want to live moving forward. We usually start out strong, and by about this time, we fizzle out and slip back into our old habits.
I recently had the opportunity to speak with Dan Buettner, the founder of The Blue Zones, five areas of the world where the healthiest, longest-lived people reside. The inhabitants of these regions make it into their hundreds and have the highest life expectancy. They are avoiding the diseases - such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, dementia - that shorten life. The five places in the world – dubbed blue zones- are: Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, California.
Buettner is the author of the books The Blue Zones, Blue Zones Kitchen, The Blue Zones Solution, The Blue Zones Challenge: A 4-Week Plan for a Longer, Better Life, and The Blue Zones of Happiness.
According to Buettner, the ironic thing is that these people who actually make it to 100 are not trying. They’re not on a heroic diet or doing cross-fit, they’re living their life. He contends that if you want to live longer, don’t try to drastically change your behavior because you will fail in the long run. The secret is to shape your environment so the healthy choice is the easy choice.
He highlights the common denominators among the people who live the longest:
· They eat mostly a whole food, plant based diet, that is high in complex carbohydrates.
· They identify a sense of purpose.
· They put their family first.
· They belong to a faith.
· They practice sacred daily rituals such as prayer or even taking naps.