Living Long, Living Well Discover the longevity secrets of the world’s Blue Zones. BY JANICE HECHT The Good Life: Staying active keeps us on the road to health. PHOTO: © WAVEBREAKMEDIA LTD | DREAMSTIME.COM
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s the pandemic uprooted our lives over the past two years, health and longevity became a primary concern for people around the world, prompting many of us to reevaluate the way we live and work. At the same time, as we return to travel, we yearn for meaningful, personal experiences … those handson, all-in immersions in another culture that help us reconnect and often plant the seeds of change in our own lives. The Blue Zones of the world afford a unique chance to do both. In these five hot spots of longevity, researched by National
globaltravelerusa.com LEISURE LIFESTYLE 2022
Geographic fellow Dan Buettner and his team, people tend to live far longer than average due to their healthy lifestyles and deeply rooted traditions, with many reaching 100 years old. As diverse and far-flung as these regions are, they share common factors which have helped inhabitants live not only longer but healthier and happier lives, all pointing to a life in balance with the rhythms of nature. They tend to eat smaller portions of a plant-based diet and stay physically fit through natural movement such as gardening or walking. These closeknit communities also incorporate a slower pace, daily rituals that
