Skip to main content

Blue Zones

  There are a few areas of the world where people regularly live to be 100 years old.

They happen to call them Blue Zones.

Not because they are full of blue haired people.

But because someone just circled the areas in blue marker on a map.

There are five such communities and they are in Italy, Greece, California, Japan and Costa Rica.

Scientists have studied what it could possibly be that allows or causes the residents in these locales live to be so old.

They have narrowed it down to a few things.

Among them are food, exercise, and socializing.

All of these places are somewhat remote.

Isolated slightly from mainstream culture and society.

I personally feel it may have more to do with the food than anything else.

There is likely no chance these people consume any processed food whatsoever.

Everything they eat is from the land, or made directly from ingredients from the land.

Whether it be protein, dairy, vegetables, wheat, rice, etc.

Not a chemical to be found in anything.

Not a saturated or trans fat in the mix.

Just pure, unadulterated vitamins, minerals, proteins, nutrients.

Incredible.

Amazing.

For we are what we eat.

I truly believe that what we put into us ultimately becomes and defines us.

My own diet could use some improvement.

I dearly love a few potato chips in the late afternoon.

I bet none of those Blue Zones have those.

I also love the occasional frozen meal in a box.

I definitely know none of those Blue Zones have those.

I bet there are no grocery stores on such a massive scale as we see here in North America.

Where we can find anything and everything and if we can't, check the frozen food aisle.

No, their isolation has been their blessing.

And whether they want to live to 100 or not, that is the gift they have been given in exchange for living so healthily and mindfully, consciously or not.

Quality of life comes to mind, because who wants to live to be anywhere near 100 if they are confined to a bed 24/7.

I believe all of these Blue Zone communities have a good quality of life, so much so they are mobile and lucid and there is not much dementia or even a walker or cane to be found.

I read recently that the human body itself cannot live much more than 115 years.

That has something to do with senescence, telomeres, and the like.

Our cell structure cannot sustain us for any longer than that, all things being equal.

Notwithstanding a French woman who recently passed away at the age of 122 years.

The rest of us mere mortals have only 115 years at most.

That is a lot.

And quality of life plays into it in a big way.

In my experience and observations, once we enter our 90's, things change dramatically.

We either have mobility or our minds.

Not both.

What would we choose?

It doesn't matter.

For our genes and our DNA have already chosen for us.

And what we choose to do with and to our bodies decides the rest.

The Blue Zone people, (there should be a movie), often also have alcohol.

(Except the California group, as their religion dictates they don't have it.)

I do enjoy a small glass of fermented grapes at happy hour, sometimes at dinner, and sometimes a night cap as well.

I say it kills any bad bacteria.

But everything in moderation, right?

Except for chemicals and processed foods.

I believe that living naturally, as these communities do, is the key factor in their longevity.

Not definitively and scientifically proven, as the studies are ongoing.

But a big part, I have no doubt.

Why a population in Africa, or France, or India, or Canada, or the U.K. isn't among the Blue Zones is anyone's guess.

All of those Blue Zone locales are fairly warm in climate, and near the ocean as well.

It seems to have nothing to do with the Happiness Chart, as cold climes such as Finland and Sweden and Denmark seem to top those every year.

So happiness has nothing to do with healthiness or living longer.

Those "Happy" countries also consume a lot of alcohol and many smoke cigarettes.

I don't know if any of my habits or food or imbibements may or may not contribute to living close to 100.

I do try to get in a 30 minute walk every day, as well as a 20 minute yoga session.

I take a double dose of Vitamin D every day, and a calcium tablet for good measure as well.

I start the day with a small "smoothie" - a concentrated blast of (hopefully) good ingredients.

Then a coffee - good for antioxidants!

Then oatmeal - even though processed, it can't be that bad.

Then a cup of fruit.

Then in the afternoon some protein in the form of an egg or nuts; more calcium in the form of cheese or yogurt; a glass of vegetable juice; and a snack or grain in the late afternoon.

Dinner is protein and veggies in the form of steamed or sauteed broccoli or a salad.

An herbal tea finishes off the day, and the happy hour glass of wine or two.

I don't know if what I do is right or wrong and we will never know until a lot goes right or something goes wrong.

All any of us can do is be mindful and cognizant and aware of each and everything that goes into and onto our bodies and hope that our quality of life is present until the end.

Amen.


Popular posts from this blog

Happy Tax

  The Danes are at it again. Making me re-obsessed about what makes them consistently among the Happiest Countries In The World. After reading numerous books on hygge, lykke and what it means to actually live in Denmark, I have come to the conclusion that it is because they are so heavily taxed. They, like all Nordic countries, and even us here in Canada, to some degree, pay a large amount of taxes. It is perhaps a coincidence that all of those countries are extremely cold for a part of the year. As I understand it, they pay so much in taxes that it virtually levels the playing field as far as income goes. For example, if you make not very much money, say under $10,000, you pay no taxes. If you make a bit more, you pay some taxes. And if you make a lot more, you pay a lot more taxes. That is it. It makes everyone more or less equal. There really is no have and have not. It is really everyone has. At social events, in neighbourhoods, community gatherings,...

Pillow Talk

  I would like to talk about the fact that I just shelled out over a hundred dollars for a pillow. An orthopedic pillow. Yes, I am at the age and stage where I invested in a special pillow to help with alignment and posture. The instructions, (yes, it came with instructions), say it could take two to three weeks to get used to it. And they are right. After years of sleeping on a very soft pillow, which has become so flat that it allows my head to virtually be horizontal or even worse, I figured it's time to be kinder to my neck and spine, head and shoulders. And so I went to a special health and medical goods supply store and paid over a hundred clams. They saw me coming. There were many more that were much more expensive. I couldn't believe it. However, it is made of some soft memory foam or something that offers firm yet supple support. There is a roll or ridge that fits under the back of my neck, firmly supporting it indeed. Almost too much so. It...

The Custodian

  One of my favourite morning routines is watering the potted plants and filling up the bird bath. As I do so, I stare in wonder and awe at all the trees, shrubs, plants and flowers that have taken up residence at our house. Most we have planted, replacing dead ones, and creating new spaces. Others have mysteriously, miraculously appeared on their own; no doubt the result of a bird or squirrel or chipmunk unknowingly depositing the seeds of flowers and trees. There is a new Rose of Sharon along the side of the house now, a new cedar at the edge of the back deck, and a couple of lilac bushes too that are pure happenstance. Numerous Blanket Flowers have found their way into our perennial gardens too, along with Black Eyed Susans and White Daisies; none planted or planned by us, purely Mother Nature doing her thing. And if these plants bring along a flower or two, they can stay. And as I marvel at these new entities appearing each year, I humbly realize I am only their...