Dan Buettner has written a NY Times best seller The Blue Zones: Lessons For Living Longer From The People Who've Lived The longest. He researched four places in the world where people not only live to be old but stay fit and active deep into old age: Okinawa Japan, Costa Rica, Sardinia Italy, and Loma Linda California. The book looks at their culture, and daily routines. From interviews, Buettner distills what he calls "The Power Nine", a guide to living longer and healthier.
There is no miracle pill or single recommendation. It's all plain old common sense about good habits that keep you healthy.
•1. Move. Recommended? Not fitness training designed to put you in marathon condition but maintaining an active lifestyle of walking, working, gardening, etc. Just get off the couch.
•2. Know your purpose. Volunteer, learn something new, tackle a project... find a reason to get up in the morning.
•3. Chill Out. Work has its place but so does relaxing with friends and family. Stress hurts you.
•4. 80% Rule. Eat but don't gorge. Stop when you feel 80% full.
•5. Eat wisely. Make your diet heavy on plants and light on meat.
•6. Antioxidants. Eat colorful foods full of antioxidants. Moderate wine consumption is also a staple of most Blue Zones. Put blueberries on your cereal.
•7. Belong. Socialize, make friends, have a social support network (an extension of #2)
•8. Beliefs. Most Blue Zone populations participate in some kind of spiritual or religious belief or meditation.
•9. Tribe. We all need people. Family culture is important in the Blue Zones. (A revisit of #7 and #3.)
It's not complicated. To stay healthy, stay active, work but not too much, eat sensibly, and take time out to enjoy friends and family.
Learn more about Lake Lure NC and the western NC Blue Ridge at http://www.DiscoverLakeLure.com
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