INSIDE THE BLUE ZONES

Across the world, scientists have discovered that inhabitants in certain regions have longer, healthier lives

As long as humans have lived, we have sought the secret to living a long life. Storytellers have shared tales of the Fountain of Youth since the beginning of recorded history. Trends in wellness and beauty mirror our desire for eternal youth. We’ve come quite a long way, due in part to modern medical advancements. Life expectancy has more than doubled from its pre-1900 levels, with people staying healthier longer.

But in this age of screen time and social media streams, rapid news cycles and keeping up with the latest and greatest, people are experiencing higher levels of stress and anxiety. According to last year’s annual Gallup Global Emotions Report, an average of 35% of respondents reported they experienced high levels of stress the day before. In the United States alone, 55% of respondents reported they experienced stress. Perhaps the true path to a long life lies in a simpler, less stressful way of life.

Best-selling author Dan Buettner was the first to coin the phrase “Blue Zone” in National Geographic Magazine’s November 2005 Edition, “Secrets of Long Life.” According to

Buettner, Blue Zones are regions on the planet with a high rate of centenarians and low levels of diseases that commonly affect other parts of the developed world. For his book The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who’ve Lived the Longest, Buettner identified five regions globally where inhabitants enjoy greater longevity than other places in the world. Though each area is undeniably different in culture and location, they do share some common features: a strong sense of community, a primarily plantbased diet and ample time in nature being a few of the common themes. Here, we look at Buettner’s five original Blue Zones, in hopes of discovering the secret to their longevity.

Okinawa, Japan

Loneliness often affects the elderly and it’s believed to decrease life expectancy. A strong sense of community is a vital component of the Japanese island of Okinawa. Many residents feel supported by their mo-ai—social support groups that begin in childhood and extend into their old age. Originally developed as a means of villages’ financial support systems,

Left page Okinawa is known for its strong sense of community—called mo-ai in Japanese

Right page Centenarians in Nicoya trace their heritage to the indigenous Chorotega culture