The Fountain of Youth: Blue Zones in Green Communities

If you’re a daily fan of the Oprah show, then you probably saw the episode where she and Doctor Oz talked about the “blue zones” in the world – locations inhabited by people who live in excess of 100 years old. These people also suffer through very few diseases in their lives. To recap Oprah’s segment, here are the currently known “blue zones” on the planet:

• Sardinia, Italy
• Loma Linda, California
• Okinawa, Japan
• Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica

What’s so special about these areas? What separates them from the rest of the planet? Surprisingly, it’s not so much about the location itself, but rather the daily activities of the people living there. Let me explain. Regardless of what anyone tells you, every person on this planet has the capability of reaching the magical 100-year mark. We may not have the longevity of Vulcans, but we can reach their halfway point. The following secrets lead to the amazing results of good health and long life:

• Daily Physical Activity
• No Smoking
• Vegetarian Diet
• Outgoing and Social Personality
• Low Stress Levels

Let’s explain each of these areas in more detail, shall we?

Daily Physical Activity

This is probably the most logical reason of all five. Constant daily physical activity is required to keep fit, whether it’s playing Wii Sports on your Wii, or just taking the dog out for a short walk.

No Smoking

One word: Cancer. Your lungs get filled with God knows how many toxic chemicals. Crush the craving, and you’ll extend your life. However, keep in mind that quitting the addiction won’t restore all of the years you lost while taking those evil puffs. Hence, it is best never to start smoking in the first place.

Vegetarian Diet

Here we go. I can already imagine how many people are going to post comments to this article endorsing their vegetarian views. “Save the animals and extend your life at the same time!” Whilst it is true that plants and vegetables contain key nutrients which our bodies require, I personally just can’t live up to this expectation. I’ll stay with eating hamburgers, hot dogs, steak, pork, chicken and lamb chops, thank you very much. Just because you’re a meat fan doesn’t mean you automatically fall into the stereotype of being overweight. In fact, I’m 18 years old and when I checked the bathroom scale a week ago, I discovered that I weigh only 106 pounds. No wonder why everyone I meet classifies me as “skinny” for my age.

Outgoing and Social Personality

The females in our society will probably win this expectation hands-down. Girls seem to have an easier time making friends than boys, at least from what I’ve discovered. Yours truly only had a few friends in his younger years – people who would be better classified as “acquaintances” than friends.

Low Stress Levels

Whether you’re stressing out for a high school exam, or because you don’t have enough money in the bank to pay the bills, it’s bad for your health. Low stress levels have been proven by scientists to extend human longevity. I know it’s hard to do, but if you place more concern towards your family’s well-being than on the upcoming mortgage bill, you might just find yourself more relaxed and less stressed out.

Other factors contributing to cultures living longer lives include the following:

• Fava Beans
• High Polyphenol Wine
• Nuts
• Likeability by Other People
• Sunshine
• Gardening
• Empowered Women
• Whole-Grain Food
• High Soy Consumption
• No Alcohol
• Faith and Belief
• Optimistic Attitude

On average, however, scientific data has proven that overall, women live approximately 5 years longer than men. I guess “Girl Power!” would be the most appropriate chant for this situation. Renowned chief scientific officer Peter DiStefano for Elixir Pharmaceuticals explains that one of the key reasons for the long life of women is due to the hormone known as estrogen, which restricts the number of calories consumed.

And those are the facts of life. To sum up my article, let me just say this:

“Regardless of whether you want to follow this advice or not, remember to always look at the glass as being half-full, as opposed to half-empty. Always be optimistic and be happy for what you have. And the next time you get into an argument with your girlfriend or wife, keep in mind that she’s already going to live longer than you, so in the end, she wins. Life is too short to be overcome with stress and anger.” – Scott (18, Triond member “Dialga”)