Blue Zones Project

Blue Zones Project Launches in the Upper Napa Valley

Adventist Health and Blue Zones, LLC Partner Up for a Healthier Community

What are the Blue Zones?

In 2004, longevity expert, best-selling author, and National Geographic Fellow, Dan Buettner teamed with National Geographic, the National Institute on Aging, and the world's best longevity researchers to identify pockets worldwide where people lived measurably better, longer. In these five areas, dubbed blue zones, researchers found that people reach age 100 at a ten times greater rate than in the United States and with lower rates of chronic disease.

After locating the world's blue zones areas, Buettner and National Geographic took teams of scientists to each location to pinpoint lifestyle characteristics that might explain the unusual longevity. They found that though the blue zones communities are located in vastly different parts of the world, their residents share nine specific traits – referred to as the Power 9® – that lead to longer, healthier, happier lives. They also discovered these residents made healthy choices because they were easy— even unavoidable—in their surroundings.

The Blue Zones Project® is a community-led initiative that incorporates Buettner's findings. It’s designed to make healthy choices easier through permanent changes to the built environment, policy, and social networks that will move a community toward optimal health and wellbeing. That's why the Blue Zones Project focuses on influencing the Life Radius®, the area close to home in which people spend 80 percent of their lives. When individuals and organizations participate, the small changes contribute to huge benefits such as lowered healthcare costs, improved productivity, and a higher quality of life.

Since the first pilot in 2009, more than 60 communities have joined the Blue Zones Project® movement, impacting more than 3.8 million citizens and helping more people live longer, better.

Blue Zones Project is a locally driven initiative and all about coming together as a community and connecting where we work, live, and play. Whether it's sharing a glass of wine at 5:00 to catch up with friends after a long day or shopping at the farmers market to meet the growers who supply fresh produce to feed our families, building connection in the community throughout our Life Radius is what's most important. – Joaquin Razo

Blue Zones Project in the Upper Napa Valley

In April 2021, Upper Napa Valley, which spans Yountville, St. Helena, Angwin, and Calistoga, was named the next Blue Zones Project community in North America. The Blue Zones Project Upper Napa Valley is brought to the area through an innovative sponsorship with Adventist Health and partnership with Blue Zones, LLC. Bringing the Blue Zones Project to the Upper Napa Valley will offer worksites, schools, restaurants, and social networks the benefits of creating healthier options closer to home. Upper Napa Valley is also receiving support from national experts to implement a comprehensive, evidencebased plan for improving community well-being.

A local team was recently named to lead the well-being transformation on behalf of the Blue Zone Upper Napa Valley Project. Joaquin Razo, a former vice president and chief strategy officer for the St. Helena Chamber of Commerce in Napa Valley, will serve as Executive Director. Fabio Maia joins him as Organization Lead, Kelly Bond as Public Policy Advocate, and Naseem Moeel as Engagement Lead. Their main charter will be implementing the Blue Zones programs and principles as Upper Napa Valley works toward attaining Blue Zones Community® certification.

Local Blue Zones Project Team from back L-R: Kelly Bond, Fabio Maia, Naseem Moeel and Joaquin Razo

The recent selection of Upper Napa Valley as a Blue Zones Project demonstration site is a direct result of the community’s motivation and enthusiasm, and community leaders and engaged citizens already working to bring positive change and improved well-being to our community. It’s an exciting time for Upper Napa Valley, and I am honored to be part of a skilled Blue Zones Project team that fully reflects the diversity of our community. – Joaquin Razo

Blue Zones Project Upper Napa Valley is also in partnership with Sharecare, the digital health company that helps people manage their health in one place. Blue Zones Project by Sharecare offers access to tools and resources to help power one’s well-being. It all starts with determining RealAge. Age is indeed just a number — but RealAge reflects health habits that can influence for the better. With Blue Zones Project and the Sharecare app, a customized well-being plan, along with challenges and resources, will help participants along the way.

The Upper Napa Valley community is well on its way to becoming a Blue Zones Community. That means residents and business owners alike are focused on improving well-being for themselves and their neighbors. For those interested in getting involved with future health challenges and joining the movement that is transforming the Upper Napa Valley, sign up to volunteer with us or join Blue Zones Project mailing list today. Together we can lower chronic disease rates and make our community a healthier, happier place to live, work and play.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: BZPUpperNapaValley@sharecare.com // unv.bluezonesproject.com // Upcoming events and happenings will be shared on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bzpuppernapavalley.