Healthy Aging: 9 Lessons from the World's Oldest Communities

Everyone wants to grow old healthily! But what can you do to truly grow old healthily?

To determine what you need to do to stay healthy for as long as possible, we'll look at the world's five oldest communities. These areas where people live exceptionally long are also known as "blue zones."

In this article, you will learn what the blue zones are and what principles people in these areas use to live longer than 100 years.

The Blue Zones, also called the Blue Zones in English, are 5 areas on Earth where a surprisingly large number of people are over 100 years old.

Two of these blue zones are located in Europe: Sardinia, Italy, and Ikara, Greece. The other three blue zones are in Okinawa, Japan; Loma Linda in California, USA; and Nicoya, Costa Rica.

But why do these people actually live so long?

No exhausting workouts, marathon running or intensive strength training, but simply moving naturally: walking and working in the fields.

People in the blue zones often don't have any equipment and do as much as possible by hand. This allows them to move naturally and moderately, which is crucial for good health.

Sufficient relaxation is something all blue zones have in common. These days, everyone is so busy with everything that needs to be done. These overcrowded schedules and deadlines cause enormous stress.

In the blue zones, they approach things differently. For example, in Ikara, Greece, they take a nice afternoon nap, and in Okinawa, they remember their grandparents several times a day.

So relaxation is planned instead of deadlines and appointments.

In the blue zones, people eat meat an average of 4 to 5 times per month.

All meals consist primarily of plant-based foods such as legumes, nuts, vegetable oils, and whole grains. Freshly made, lovingly prepared, and enjoyed with company.

Nearly all Blue Zones consume alcohol daily in moderation (except Loma Linda in California, USA).

Red wine in particular can be very healthy, provided it is drunk in moderation and in good company.

Research in the Blue Zones found that 98% of respondents were part of a (religious) community.

Connecting with each other for a greater purpose could contribute to a long and healthy life.

In the blue zones, people live close to their family. This means that parents with children and their grandparents often live in the same house and care for and love each other.

They have one life partner throughout their lives and invest time and love in their children.

The oldest people in the world often have people around them who encourage each other's healthy habits.

By having people around you who live healthy lives, it is easier for you to make the right choices in terms of nutrition and health.

People in the blue zones don't overeat. This is often referred to as the 80/20 rule.

This means you should eat to fill yourself to 80%, so you're not completely full, but also not hungry anymore. In Okinawa, they call this way of eating "Hari Hachi Bu."

People in the blue zones in Nicoya call this “Plan de Vida” and people in Okinawa call it “Ikigai”.

This can be loosely translated as "Why do I get up in the morning?" By this, they mean that you should have a clear purpose in life and therefore know what you're doing it for.

What it really comes down to is being very aware of your lifestyle.

Sufficient exercise, eating enough plant-based food and limiting stress as much as possible are, in my opinion, the most important elements.

You should not see a healthy lifestyle as an expense, but as an investment in a long and healthy life.