Blue Zones: Why People There Live Longer and Healthier Lives

The older we get, the more susceptible we are to illnesses. How to extend the health span is the subject of longevity research. In the search for answers, scientists are intensively studying the so-called "Blue Zones."

What is behind the term "Blue Zones"?

Blue Zones were first mentioned by the US journalist Dan Buettner in the National Geographic magazine's cover story "The Secrets of a Long Life" in 2005. Buettner discovered that there are certain regions worldwide where noticeably many people live significantly longer and stay healthy compared to other areas. These regions are scattered around the globe. The Super Agers there often live to be over 100 years old - and do so without typical diseases of civilization like cancer, cardiovascular problems, and Alzheimer's.

Why are these regions called "Blue Zones"?

In 2000, demographer Dr. Michel Poulain, together with Gianni Pes, a Sardinian doctor, was involved in determining the age of the numerous centenarians in Sardinia. The places where people most frequently reach 100 years of age were marked on the map with a blue pen.

This is how the first Blue Zone was created. Subsequently, the two, in collaboration with Dan Buettner, expanded the term and used it for other longevity regions around the world.

Where are the five Blue Zones?

1. Ogliastra, Sardinia, Italy: The province has the highest concentration of men over 100 years old worldwide.

2. Okinawa, Japan: On this island live the oldest women in the world.

3. Nicoya, Costa Rica: The small peninsula has the second-highest concentration of centenarian men.

4. Ikaria, Greece: Every third person on the island reaches 90 years old and benefits from one of the lowest dementia rates globally.

5. Loma Linda, California, USA: The city has the highest concentration of Seventh-day Adventists in the country, a religion that enforces a strict biblical diet, prohibits alcohol and smoking, and encourages regular exercise.

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The coast of the Sardinian province of Olisastra

What do the "Blue Zones" have in common?

All have good healthcare and are located in sunny areas, so a deficiency in vitamin D, which can shorten lifespan, is highly unlikely there. According to Dan Buettner, diet, lifestyle, and social structures have a particularly large impact on longevity. Buettner identified nine factors in total that contribute to a long, healthy life - the so-called "Power-9":

1. Plant-based diet: Lots of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, extra virgin olive oil, few dairy products, occasional fish and white meat. No matter the Blue Zone: People eat what grows locally and what the current season offers.

2. 80-percent rule: Stop eating when the stomach is 80 percent full. And: Shared meals are highly valued.

3. Moderate alcohol consumption: According to Buettner, people in the Blue Zones drink little or no alcohol - at most one to two glasses of red wine daily in company or with meals.

4. Natural movement: The residents of the Blue Zones often walk or cycle, work daily in the field or garden, and spend a lot of time outdoors. Like the shepherds in Sardinia, who walk several kilometers a day with their animals.

People have rituals integrated into their day that reduce stress

5. The meaning of life: The Okinawans call it "Ikigai," the Nicoyans "plan de vida." Translated, both mean: "Why do you get up in the morning and what makes your life worth living?" Those who have found their calling live more contentedly and in balance.

6. No stress: Of course, stress also arises in the Blue Zones. But people there have rituals integrated into their day that reduce stress: short walks, prayers, or a short nap.

7. Family first: Family comes first in every Blue Zone. People take intensive and loving care of the elderly and the young, often several generations live under one roof so that children grow up with both their parents and grandparents. This creates a feeling of security, safety, and satisfaction.

8. Belonging: The people of the Blue Zones are socially active in their communities and often belong to an organization, group, or religious community to which they are very connected.

9. Friendships: A secret of the Okinawans: they maintain lifelong friendships, called MOAI. Small groups are formed in childhood that support each other and meet regularly, well into old age.