The secrets to living to 100 years old
You don’t know what the blue zones are, and that is costing you years of your life. Adding healthy years to your life is a human desire, our instinct is to survive, to be with our families, and to watch the young grow into good, honourable adults.
Who doesn’t want to live longer, right? The question is, how? Have people already figured it out? Do we already know how we can increase our lifespan?
This is why I am going to tell you about the blue zones. The blue zones are unique populations on Earth where the average life expectancy is much higher than in the rest of the world.
This means they are doing something right. Heart attacks, diabetes, and cancer mortality are nowhere near as high as they are in Western countries. Why is that? If you think these diseases are a consequence of old age and are in everyone’s fate, how come these populations have such a low incidence of those diseases? How come you have people living to 100 years old still exercising and working?
Where are they?
It would be unfair to not tell you where those blue zones are, maybe you want to do a little research by yourself to see if what I’m saying is really true. Here you have it:
- Loma Linda – United States
- Nicoya – Costa Rica
- Okinawa – Japan
- Sardinia – Italy
These are the places where the people live the longest! As you can see, they are all over the globe, there may be more blue zones, but these are the ones that have been more looked into.
I couldn’t talk about the blue zones without mentioning the creator of this concept – Dan Buettner – he was the one to visit all the blue zones and interview the locals and find out all about them!
What is their secret to immortality? 4 key areas.
#1 unique diet
The diets of these Blue Zone residents hold the secret to their prolonged lives and good health. Despite their diverse countries, they share one commonality – they consume very little meat.
Their choice isn’t driven by modern concerns like the environment, health, or ethics (except for Loma Linda, where religious reasons prevail). It simply boils down to limited access, so meat is reserved for special occasions—once a month, once a quarter, or even once a year!
These populations heavily rely on vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds. With limited means, their diets consist mainly of affordable foods and homegrown treasures from their own gardens.
Imagine having a backyard garden just steps away, where you can grow seasonal delights like tomatoes, onions, peppers, and chilies. It’s a super cool concept! By incorporating more plant-based goodness and growing your own staple foods, you’ll enjoy the benefits of fresh, accessible ingredients while embracing a healthier lifestyle.
#2 They never stop moving
You know, it’s interesting how many of us tend to have this image in our minds of old age as being synonymous with being confined to a chair or a bed, struggling to take care of ourselves. But let me tell you, my friend, that’s not necessarily the case. And if you need proof, just take a look at the incredible people living in the Blue Zones.
These Blue Zones are areas around the world where people are not only living longer, but they’re also living better. They’re defying those stereotypes of old age and showing us that there’s a different way to approach it. One of the key factors that contribute to their vitality is their level of physical activity.
You see, the average elderly person in the Blue Zones spends at least an hour each day engaging in some form of exercise. Now, don’t get me wrong, that doesn’t mean they’re all out there pumping iron or running marathons. No, they have their own unique ways of staying active.
For instance, they take care of their gardens, walk to visit their friends’ houses, participate in yoga classes, and engage in various light exercises. The important thing is that they keep moving, day in and day out. And that makes a world of difference.
Imagine this: a remarkable 100-year-old woman from Okinawa walks to her local supermarket without any trouble. If she can do it, my friend, so can you. Age shouldn’t be a barrier that holds us back. Let’s take inspiration from these incredible individuals in the Blue Zones and make a conscious effort to keep ourselves active and mobile, no matter our age.
#3 Belong to a Community
Did you know that feeling a sense of belonging to a community might increase your lifespan? It seems like the people from the Blue Zones figured this out long ago.
They form incredibly tight communities, live close to family members, keep in touch with their friends, and dedicate time to socializing.
How can you do this in your life? Are you part of a community? Do you surround yourself with people with the same values?
#4 sense of purpose
Believe it or not, having a sense of purpose might add years to your life. The reason this makes sense to me is that if you have a meaning, you have more will to live, you have a reason to get up in the morning and have something you look forward to. This is great because it forces you to challenge yourself. These people in the blue zones find meaning in the smallest things, for example, attending to their garden to make sure it doesn’t die off.
Having this meaning keeps you engaged, keeps you moving and might actually be the foundation of all other healthy habits. A purpose keeps you active, keeps you focused, and that’s the meaning of life, to dedicate ourselves to a craft and master it.
wrap up
This was a summary of the habits that people from the blue zones have developed and practice on a daily basis. I find it super interesting to learn from them because, well, they live longer than anybody else! They are also the happiest. Being sad and depressed lowers your life expectancy, as you can imagine.
If you are looking for ways to increase your longevity, focus on working on one of these areas at a time.
- Base your diet around vegetables, beans, walnuts, seeds, and whole grains, and minimize your consumption of meat.
- Get an exercise routine going.
- Find a community and contribute to it.
- Find purpose in your life, something that gives you meaning and you look forward to doing.
I hope you found this post useful!
Have a great day,
Martim
