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I Check-in I Wellness

and how to channel their life-prolonging force \ By Shiri Brook-Sagie 5 Blue Zones * around the world

known for their healthy, vegetarian, active lifestyle. They avoid smoking, alcohol, sugar, and fat, and eat a diet resembling that of biblical times. The lesson to us: integrate more whole grains, nuts, fruit and vegetables to your diet, and reduce meat, alcohol, and sugar consumption. Nicoya, Costa Rica This Central American nation isn’t that far from the US geographically, but its inhabitants enjoy a much higher longevity than any other nation on the continent. Several factors are at play here, among which high consumption of calcium-rich water (this can perhaps explain the lower rates of heart disease as well as of stronger bones), and a positive outlook on life called “plan de vida” which provides a reason to live. The lesson to us: aside from consuming a calcium rich diet, strengthen social ties to increase levels of joy, celebrate elders, and focus on family and friends. * Blue zones are areas of the world where people live the longest lives, relative to the rest of the world’s population, and consistently reach the age of 100

Ikaria, Greece The inhabitants of Ikaria, a tiny rocky island in the Aegean Sea, are famous for their longevity: one in three make it to their 90s. A combination of factors explains this, including geography, culture, diet, lifestyle, and outlook on life. The longest-lived Ikarians tended to be poor people living in the island’s highlands. They were physically active, growing their own vegetables and walking everywhere, took afternoon naps, centered life around family, and practiced the religious fasting of the Christian tradition. The lesson to us: practice enjoyable physical activity (eg. gardening), eat a veggie-loaded Mediterranean-style diet, nap, and fast occasionally (fasting has been proven to slow down the aging process). Okinawa, Japan The biggest island of the Japanese archipelago, Okinawa is known as a Blue Zone because of the longevity and good health in old age of its inhabitants. Okinawans have less cancer, heart disease and dementia, and women there live

Okinawa, Japan

longer than any women on the planet. So what’s their secret? One reason is that their diet is mostly veggie-based, loaded with Okinawan sweet potato, soy, a type of sour melon called goya, and turmeric. They also practice tai-chi, are viscerally dedicated to friends and family, and follow the principles of ikigai which teaches the power of finding a reason to live. The lesson to us: apart from eating a healthy diet, bolster your social network - it supports people well into old age. Ogliastra, Sardinia The first Blue Zone to have been discovered in the world, Ogliastra is famous for having the highest number of centenarian men (ten more centenarians per capita than in the US for instance). The cluster of

villages in the Sardinian province of Ogliastra, isolated geographically and culturally, has preserved its healthy way of life across the generations. Ogliastrans hunt, fish and gather the food they consume, they walk extensively (more than 5 km a day), and place family and laughter at the heart of their lives. The lesson to us: since hunting and gathering isn’t really applicable to western life, the lesson here is to get yourself a step counter and go for long daily walks – and to make sure you keep a sense of humor about you. Loma Linda, California The inhabitants of the Californian town of Loma Linda are Seventh-Day Adventists who believe Saturday is the weekly day of rest and not Sunday like in other Christian faiths. Loma Lindans are

14 ATMOSPHERE APRIL 2023