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What do the
longest living people
in the world have
in common?
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They say that it is the little things that matter most in life. That is true especially when talking about
the secrets of longevity. Apparently it
is the small details of daily living that add up to a healthier and longer
life. That is what the people at
National Geographic discovered when they tried to explore the secrets of
longevity among various people and cultures.
While looking for the common traits in lifestyle among the longest
living people on the planet, they discovered certain similar practices which
could be considered a formula to living a longer life.
There are areas of the planet where people tend to enjoy
longevity. People there reach the age of
100 at extraordinary rates and reach these ages enjoying amazing health and strong cognitive capabilities.
The places have been geographically and demographically defined as the Blue Zones. Blue Zone places like Greece, Nicaragua and
Japan can teach the rest of the planet how to live a long and healthy life. In the book, “The Blue Zones: Lessons for
Living Longer from the People Who’ve Lived the Longest”, Dan Buettner maps out some
common traits shared be these groups of people.
Lifestyle of Food
Diet is key to longevity. Those
who live in the Blue Zones share the same foundation in their diets. They all
get the bulk of their protein from beans rather than meat. High consumption of proteins from animal
products can increase mortality levels by 70% and greatly increase the risk of
getting cancer. The Blue Zone centenarians
eat beans, grains, fresh fruits and vegetables on a daily basis and enjoy small
amounts of meat only a couple times a month.
They also drink a little wine daily which brings high levels of
polyphenols and antioxidants into their diets. They live much longer than
average with just a fraction of the current rate of dementia in their elderly
years.
Lifestyle of Motion
People who live to the age of 100 and older are engaged in physical
activity throughout their lives. They
don’t actively take part in exercise like per se but their lifestyles are set
up so they are constantly in motion either through walking, gardening or doing
household chores, mostly without the aid of modern conveniences. Their daily chores keep them fit because they
do them the old fashioned way: walking to the stores instead of driving,
kneading bread instead of buying it sliced and packaged, planting, watering and
weeding a vegetable garden…. These daily tasks create unconscious physical
activity which carried out over a lifetime leads to a fit and healthy body.
Lifestyle of Purpose
Having a sense of meaning or purpose in your life can add up to 7
years to the average lifespan. The
people living in the Blue Zones focus on family and relationships. They live with or near their adult aged
children and help raise their grandchildren.
They are deeply involved in the daily lives of their family because they
all live, work, eat and play together. Having
a deep sense of purpose and involvement with the people you love adds years to
a lifespan.
Lifestyle of Community
Those living in the Blue Zones have a real sense of belonging to their
community. They share a commitment to
social network that they have built over a lifetime. Most live in a village setting with people
they grew up with and have known for years.
The concept of being lonely, which can take 8 years off average life
expectancy, would be hard for them to understand. In addition the bulk of the centenarians are
involved in a faith based group of some kind. A deep religious faith and
connection to other faith based people can add up to a decade in life
expectancy.
Taking a lesson from lifestyles found in the Blue Zones and adapting
them to our daily lives can be a challenge but is well worth the effort. Aging cannot be helped but how you live as
you age can make an amazing difference in the quantity and quality of the years
you enjoy.
Kate
McCarthy is Director of Operations for HomeAid Health Care which provides
services for the elderly who wish to remain safe and independent at home. HomeAid is sister company to Prairie Home
Assisted Living which has served the physical, spiritual, mental and health needs
of their residents since 1999. Together
the two companies provide comprehensive care for the elderly in the Fox Valley
area of Wisconsin.
Sources:
“Here are the Secrets to a Long and Healthy Life” by Simon Worrall, National
Geographic. April 12, 2015.
“The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who’ve Lived
the Longest” by Dan Buettner.
National Geographic, 2009.
“Top Lifestyle Changes for Older Adults to Live a Longer, More Enjoyable
Life” by Derek Jones, April 4, 2016.
