WHAT THE ‘BLUE ZONE’ ISLAND OF SARDINIA CAN TEACH US ABOUT LIVING LONGER SUSANNA MATTA ARCH203_EXE6
The island of Sardinia is the first blue zone to have been declared
BLUE ZONE is a concept coined by scholars Gianni Pes and Michel Poulain to identify a demographic and / or geographic area of the world where people live longer than average.
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EXPERIMENTAL GERONTOLOGY
OROSEI GULF REGIONAL PARK OF GENNARGENTU
THE LOCATION
Seulo holds the record of 20 centenarians from 1996 to 2016, making it the place where people live the longest in the world!
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After conducting some research, it is clear to see that there is a combination of lifestyle factors, location isolation, and genetics that make Sardinia one of the seven blue zones of the world.
1 Sardinians’s traditional lives involve agricultural work and the tending to their land. This continues to the present day. Men go out to work on the fields, attending to vineyards, pruning fruit trees, watering the vegetable garden or herding sheep. These jobs keep the body strong and healthy. Meaning they don’t have to stress about finding time to head to the gym. They also enjoy walking to observe the countryside, especially to aid digestion following a hearty meal.
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Why is it, so many Sardinians are surpassing the ripe age of one hundred?
Grandparents play a central role in the lives of their children and grandchildren. They possess wisdom gained from their long lives. Which they aim to share. They want to see their friends and family thrive and find contentment in life. They use their vast knowledge about nature, traditions, and farming to help those around them. The old people of Sardinia are quick to take your hand and guide you to a hidden fig tree that has just become ripe. Tell you how to deal with the pests in your vineyard. Or the optimal technique hit the almonds out of the trees. Their lives have been build to been filled with purpose and contentment. They would be devastated to be put in a care home. Instead, they’re set to work by their own family, looking after the children and the garden. This gives them a role, so they can continue to engage with their environment and the people within it.
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Sardinians have a very healthy lifestyle in connection with the seasons of the earth. Each new season brings new fruits and vegetables to the island. They have been taught where to find wild fruits and herbs from the land, which surrounds them. They eat mainly wholegrain bread, homegrown vegetables and only a small amount of sugar. They still hunt their meat, catch their fish, and harvest the food what they eat. Tight-knit towns like to share the produce from their gardens with their friends and family.
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Sardinia has one of the wealthiest bread cultures in the world with over 300 varieties. Sardinians make their own bread fresh sometimes daily that contains yeast full of healthy bacteria that is great for the gut. When making your own bread, you can see the simplicity of ingredients compared to what is sold in supermarkets.
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One of the most popular grape varieties in Sardinia is Cannonau which is full of antioxidants, it has three times the number of flavonoids (which keep the arteries clean and prevent disease) compared to other wines. The Sardinian wine made from the local winemaker or a friend’s personal production. The house wine in bars comes in an unbranded bottle before the wine would have been fermented, from just down the road. Also, traditionally, Sardinians consume wine in moderation.
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Olive oil protects against cardiovascular diseases and reduces “bad cholesterol”, lowering the risk of heart attack. Omega-3 reduces the risk of breast cancer in women. Polyunsaturated fats are related to better cognitive and behavioral performance, while monounsaturated fats lead to less anger and irritability. Olive oil has positive effects on cardiovascular health and cancer prevention, helping against medical conditions like osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s.
eat little meat unless for a festival or celebration. Due to the tradition of sheep hearding, they have always made their own sheep cheese, which is high in protein, Omega-3 fatty acid, while containing low amounts of cholesterol. The sheep roam free, eating grass, which plays a role in producing higher quality milk
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4 Lunch is the biggest meal of the day, members of the family return from work to join the feast. This clearly shows the priorities and easy-going nature of Sardinians. They’re not obsessed with advancing their careers but rather content with spending time with their loved ones and making time to enjoy meals together. In traditional style families, it is common for Sardinian women to spend mornings at home looking after the children and preparing food, often you will find two or three generations of women cooking together to make a family meal. Sardinians live very social lives, whether working on the fields, playing cards in the bars or gathering together in the late afternoon to watch the happenings about in the town.
Throughout the last several centuries Sardinia has remained isolated despite numerous occupations by foreign powers. The gene pools that exist have remained small and undiluted. It may be the case that’s their gene has given them a platform to experience remarkable longevity. Some areas of Sardinia have a substantially higher number of centenarians than the rest of the world besides other blue zones which arguably have similar traits and ways of life as do the Sardinians. It is this cultural isolation which has allowed Sardinia to retain ancient festivities and traditions to this very day. Festivals offer a significant moment of celebration and a chance to socialize. Families are large and commonly choose to remain in their hometowns. This leads to powerful communities with many connections between people.
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6 Another factor that shouldn’t be overlooked would be the religious and spiritual values of Sardinians. They are traditionally strict Catholics, like the rest of Italy and a right proportion still attend mass. The religious element gives Sardinians a sense of purpose and meaning to their lives. While religious festivals and events offer a structure. They also have a deep connection to mother nature.
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built for strians
URBAN ORGANIZATION “LA PIAZZA” plazas
URBAN ORGANIZATION human scale
URBAN ORGANIZATION Interesting corners and mixed use buildings
CONCLUSIONS It is important to understand the role that diet plays in longevity, but the social lifestyle of Sardinians seems to be the key point. Social lifestyle reduce stress and create contentment. The way we shape architecture and its urban aspects can be the key to create the basis for an healthier and longer life. Can we, as designers, help people being healthier, to spend much of their days laughing, singing, eating with their families and socializing like Sardinians do?
SUSANNA MATTA