I am currently reading a fascinating book, “The Blue Zones” by Dan Buettner. The book is about 4 specific places in the world where there is a higher concentration of centenarians (people who live to at least 100) than in other places. The author travelled to these places to interview some of the locals who were in their 90′s and 100′s, most of whom were still self-sufficient.
The four places travelled to were (1) Sardinia, Italy, (2) Okinawa, Japan, (3) Loma Linda, California, and (4) Costa Rica.
I’d like to highlight what the author’s perception is about why each of these places supports a longer than average, healthy life. Today, I’ll give you the Sardinian lifestyle summary:
From “The Blue Zones“, by Dan Buettner:
- Eat a lean, plant-based diet accented with meat. The main staples of the Sardinian diet are whole-grain bread, beans, garden vegetables, and fruits. Also traditional is pecorino cheese made from grass-fed sheep. This cheese is high in omega-3 fatty acids. Meat is a Sunday/holiday treat only.
- Put family first. Sardinia has strong family values. This helps with lower rates of depression, suicide, and stress.
- Drink Goat’s milk. Goat’s milk may protect against inflammatory diseases such as heart disease and Alzheimer’s.
- Celebrate elders. Grandparents play a huge role in the lives of their grandchildren. This may mean kids grow up to be healthier and better adjusted.
- Take a walk. Sardinian men traditionally are shepherds. In order to carry out their work, they walk at least 5 miles a day. This is great cardiovascular activity and keeps bones, joints, and muscles working, but it isn’t really strenuous.
- Drink a glass or two of red wine daily. All of the centenarians Dan Buettner spoke to in Sardinia drank red wine moderately. Cannonau wine, which is traditional in Sardinia has 2-3 times the level of flavonoids as other wines. This part of their lifestyle may also help with stress.
- Laugh with friends. The men in Sardinia would often end their work day by gathering with other men and laughing at and with each other. This can be great for stress and just for general well-being.
Based on the above, it shouldn’t be that hard to take up some of these practices. There is nothing written above that is very complicated, expensive, or hard to achieve no matter what climate you live in. In fact, some of them are simply social practices!
I’ll give you the tips from the other three places over the coming weeks. Stay tuned!
To your health,
Kimberly
Pretty funny stuff.
