There are a few places in the world that have higher numbers of centenarians, and generally healthy older people. They are called “blue zones”, or Blue Zones. Inevitably, scientists were interested in it, to understand what made people live there better than elsewhere, with less cardiovascular disease, less degenerative disorders.
A new series broadcast on Netflix, 100 years of plenitude: The secrets of the blue zones, features Dan Buettner, researcher specializing in longevity. It shows a 101-year-old woman from Okinawa, Japan, playing a banjo-like instrument called a sanshin.
Author of Blue zones – Where do we live best and longest?(ed. It interests me), Dane Buettner met populations who live beyond 100 years and observed their way of life to better understand their vitality.
The objective? Seeks to bring lessons from these areas to cities across the United States, including the Bronx, where heart disease is high, by helping to implement large-scale public health projects. A recent Gothamist article tells the story of the project to import the concept of the blue zone to New York, and to come and fight against Alzheimer’s disease, which is very present in the Bronx.
Where are the centenarians?
Originally, the blue areas are Sardinia, Icaria in Greece, Loma Linda in California, Okinawa in Japan or the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica. Among them, we observed life principles around four pillars: food, first of all, which must be mainly vegetable.
Centenarian plates limit red meat
Indeed, the common point on the plates of centenarians largely concerns food. The latter rely largely on a diet composed of 95% plants and limit red meat. All foods of animal origin such as fish, meat, cold meats or cheese are only eaten occasionally. Centenarians also tend to cook little fat, but a lot of carbohydrates (Whole grains).
What we find on the plate of centenarians
Their diet is very similar to the Mediterranean diet. We find fresh fruits and vegetables, oily fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel, etc.), olive oil, whole grains and legumes.
Another common point: the consumption of local products for the most part. The first surveys of the oldest people in these four Blue Zones show that the diet, although different between the four Blue Zonesreveals a common trait, that of a wide consumption of locally produced foods, foods that are therefore not derived from the food industry.
Little stress in the blue zones
Another pillar: sociability (particularly the sense of community belonging), a low level of stress and daily physical activity.
In the different Blue Zones, the age at the end of working life very often exceeds the 80-year mark and the level of physical activity that we will describe as natural is often maintained beyond that. The absence of stress and the low prevalence of depression and dementia were also observed during our surveys in each of the Blue Zones. Finally, family ties as well as very close social relationships at the community level are also the prerogative of the populations of the Blue Zones.”
Sources: Blue zones – Where do we live best and longest?Dan Buettner, (ed. I’m interested)
Cairn, Gothamist
