Experts have been trying to find the secret to a long and happy life for centuries. Results from the Danish Twin Study found that only 20% of the average person’s lifespan is determined by genes. Meanwhile, around 80% is influenced by lifestyle and environment. According to the Daily Star, after seeing the research, Dan Buettner decided to investigate the subject further with the aim of “reversing longevity” by taking a look at the five places in the world where people live the longest, healthiest lives.
Dan is the one who identified these ‘Blue Zones’, which include Ikaria in Greece, Loma Linda in California, Nicoya in Costa Rica, Okinawa in Japan and Sardinia in Italy. These are geographic regions where chronic disease rates are lower and life expectancy is longer. Collaborating with National Geographic, Dan found “loads of people” in these places with high life expectancies to investigate how these 100-year-olds are thriving.
A team of medical researchers, anthropologists, demographers and epidemiologists then looked for ‘evidence-based common denominators’ shared by these destinations. Dan and his team came up with nine interesting principles and practices that they realized could be applied in societies around the world to increase the length of our lives; Because these Blue Zone people are ten times more likely to reach 100 years old than anyone else. So what are the ‘Power Nine’ rules?
1. MOVE EVERY DAY
While you might think hitting the gym or going for a long run is the key to staying healthy, Dan thinks lighter exercise is actually the way to go. People in the Blue Zones were not engaging in traditional workouts and instead appear to move ‘naturally’ approximately every 20 minutes while completing their usual daily tasks. For example, it might involve doing some gardening, kneading your own bread, walking instead of driving, or using hand-operated tools instead of the modern shortcuts most of us take all the time these days.
2. NOT WORRYING ABOUT THE SMALL THINGS
When you encounter strange situations like your car not starting or your phone dying, it can stress out many people. But those who live in Blue Zones don’t sweat the small stuff. This keeps blood pressure at a healthy rate, as well as reducing stress and getting rid of the inflammation that comes with it. According to LadBible, Dan said: “Stress leads to chronic inflammation, which is associated with every major age-related disease. We have the longest-living people in the world, and it’s not just routines to relieve that stress that we don’t. Okinawans take a few minutes every day to remember their ancestors.” , Adventists pray, Ikarians sleep, and Sardinians spend happy hours.”
3. HAVING A PURPOSE
According to Dan, waking up every morning with a reason to get out of bed does wonders for our health. He discovered that the brains of people living in Blue Zones are filled with determination and passion for life; He suggested that being happy to be alive could buy you a little more time on the planet.