If you are serious about becoming a billionaire, a good place to begin would be to research the histories, strategies, and steps taken by successful billionaires to achieve their goals. On the contrary, I would think twice before trusting the recommendations and advice of billionaire wannabes, regardless of their sincere intentions to reach their goals.
Similarly, if you want to live a long, vibrant, and fulfilled life, free of chronic diseases and undesired stress, would you 1) prefer the advice of someone in their 50s or 60s who may be educated on the topic of longevity but lacks the experience or 2) follow the guidance and lifestyle recommendations of existing populations representing the healthiest and longest living people on the planet?
In 2008, Dan Buettner published the NY Times Bestseller, “The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who’ve Lived the Longest.” It was based on research conducted by Buettner and his team, which included National Geographic, the National Institute on Aging, and other longevity researchers.
The “Blue Zones” are regions identified for their inhabitants’ exceptional longevity and well-being. Most inhabitants live well into their 90s and are free of the common chronic diseases experienced in the West. People reach the age of 100 at 10 times greater rates than in the United States.
The Five Widely Recognized Blue Zones are:
Okinawa, Japan, Sardinia, Italy, Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica, Ikaria, Greece, Loma Linda, California, USA
Common lifestyle traits observed in these regions include:
- Plant-Based Diets: Consuming diets rich in plant-based foods, with limited meat and processed foods.
- Natural Movement: Engaging in regular, low-intensity physical activities as part of daily routines. No pumping iron, running marathons, or joining gyms.
- Purpose: Doing something meaningful that fulfills us. “Why I wake up in the morning.
- Stress Management: Practicing methods to reduce stress, such as socializing and maintaining a relaxed lifestyle.
- Caring Communities: Participation in community activities provides social support and a sense of belonging.
- Family Prioritization: Placing a strong emphasis on family bonds and support networks.
- Social Engagement: Maintaining active social circles that reinforce healthy behaviors.
Buettner’s work has led to the implementation of Blue Zones Projects throughout the United States in communities, workplaces, and universities. The projects focus on improving health through changes to the local environment, public policy, and social networks.
These shared practices suggest that lifestyle and environmental factors significantly promote longevity and well-being. Research studies establish that only about 20% of the time the average person lives is dictated by our genes.
LONGEVITY IS ONLY PART OF THE STORY
Because of the scientific and technological advances within the medical industry, especially the development of new drugs by the pharmaceutical industry, today’s doctors can keep patients alive for a few extra years, regardless of the chronic diseases they are suffering from. The term “disease management” is frequently used by doctors to explain to the patient that, although they may experience symptoms of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or some other chronic disease, they can live longer…provided they continue to follow the recommended protocol of taking a list of prescribed drugs for the remainder of their lives. In other words, the patient can live longer, albeit without ever experiencing true wellness, as experienced in the “Blue Zones.”
The word “longevity” alone does not consider a person’s quality of life. Is living to 90 or 100 worth it if you can hardly see, walk, talk, or suffer from chronic diseases? According to the Blue Zone lifestyle, what matters most is not a person’s lifespan (chronological age) but the “healthspan” (wellness at any age).
It makes sense that when we care for our health and provide our body with the right foods and lifestyle practices, the body will gift us with a robust immune system and optimal health, empowering us to depend less on pharmaceutical drugs, doctors, and hospitals and more on our body’s innate healing and disease-prevention powers. As a positive side effect, these behavior changes can also help heal the planet and reverse the current trend toward species extinction.
We have not learned to perceive our body and health in the above manner. Instead, from a very young age, we have learned to depend mainly on doctors and drugs to keep us well. In most cases, when we educate ourselves by researching and experiencing alternative health options, we realize how priceless and precious our body is and that it is incumbent on each individual to accept responsibility for their health and wellness. Unfortunately, the manipulation of health information by the food industry to ensure their profit margin is making it difficult for the average person to access the truth about our body’s natural healing powers.
FINAL THOUGHTS
My first book, “The Thriving Vegan,” published in 2019, focused almost entirely on plant-based nutrition as the key to optimal health and wellness. Since then, I have discovered that healthy lifestyle practices are fundamental if we genuinely desire to thrive and be fulfilled as we age. Aside from the Blue Zone lifestyle traits, I have added the following practices which have helped me resolve personal health issues:
1. Sufficient sleep – Although opinions differ, I believe it depends on our personal needs. I require between 6 and 7 hours to feel well rested. My wife needs 8. My constant yawning the following day is a sign that I’m not getting enough sleep.
2. Nose breathing – I had sleep apnea, which required the use of an uncomfortable mouthpiece while sleeping for two years. Patrick McKeown’s book “The Oxygen Advantage,” provided me with the cure – breathing through the nose and sleeping on my side. I remember his rule: “The mouth is for eating, and the nose is for breathing.” Nose breathing is also the remedy for most snoring problems.
3. Breath holds or breathwork offers several benefits. It can help improve lung capacity and oxygen utilization, especially in the brain. It promotes relaxation, reduces stress, and enhances mental focus and concentration. It also helped to eliminate the occasional arrhythmias that I previously had.
4. Correct posture – As I got older, my posture got worse. Like many elders, I started to bend forward, and I was often reminded of that by friends and family. I relearned how to stand and walk correctly and utilize a bar for hanging and an inversion table daily. Both help me to maintain separation between the vertebras.
5. Pickleball – Is currently the fastest-growing sport in the United States, with 50 million adults of all ages participating at one level or another. It’s a cross between ping pong, badminton, and tennis. If you have experience with any of these activities, it could help your game. I’ve been playing for almost three years and have experienced the following benefits:
- Since the game requires focus and attention, it helps us forget our daily worries and concerns. The result is a release from tension, stress, and anxiety.
- It ignites the production of endorphins, the feel-good hormone, which increases energy levels and a sense of happiness.
- It is a social sport that promotes friendship and a sense of belonging.
- It works muscles all over the body, including legs and butt, hips and core, as well as our upper body. Very few exercises work so many muscles at once.
- Improves cognitive function requiring quick thinking, strategic planning, and hand-eye coordination. It’s a preventative measure against cognitive decline, especially in older adults.
- Can provide a sense of purpose by giving players a goal to work towards, whether improving skills or participating in tournaments.
- Can increase self-esteem, confidence, and a feeling of pride when you witness improvement in your skills and overall playing ability.
- Promotes mindfulness, which is the practice of focusing and being in the present moment, free of distractions.
Note: In the Netflix documentary series “Live to 100/Secrets of the Blue Zones”, Loma Linda, California, represents one of the five Blue Zones. I was surprised to see that Pickleball is one of the activities that helps people live longer and healthier lives.
We should actively apply the above keys in our lives. In that case, we will support our body in its quest for optimal health, a robust immune system, and the prevention and reversal of the chronic diseases that cause so much pain, suffering, and premature death.
