Back to Living The Science

While visiting Okinawa, Japan, don’t be surprised if you encounter more than one centenarian (a person who is 100-years-old or older).  Okinawa is one of five identified Blue Zones®: small geographical areas with large clusters of people who live to be healthy and over 100-years-old. Other Blue Zones® include Ikaria, Greece; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica; and Loma Linda, California.

What is their secret? What do all of these people have in common?

A journalist collected information from each population and discovered: they live, eat, pray, move, and love in a way that mirrors the CREATION lifestyle.

These are their 8 tips for longer, healthier living. We’ve included the appropriate CREATION Life principles to demonstrate how closely it aligns with lifestyles in Blue Zones®.

0

Move Naturally:

Make activity a natural part of your day. Leave some of the modern conveniences behind and add movement to your daily tasks.

Activity
1

Purpose:

Know what inspires you, what gets you out of bed, and what your purpose is.

Rest
2

Down Shift:

Take the time to de-stress and make it a routine to do so.

Rest
3

80% Rule:

Eat until you feel 80% full to avoid overeating. And eat larger meals in the morning and smaller meals at night.

Choice; Nutrition
4

Plant Slant:

Consume whole food, plant-based diets, including beans and legumes, with occasional small portions of white meat (if any at all).

Nutrition
5

Belong:

Participate with your faith-based community.  Less than 2% of the centenarians didn’t ascribe to religious beliefs or attend services.

Trust; Interpersonal Relationships
6

Loved Ones First:

Surround yourself with family, especially intergenerational family members.

Interpersonal Relationships
7

Right Tribe:

Surround yourself with social networks that support and practice healthy lifestyles.

Trust; Interpersonal Relationships; Outlook
Want to learn more about Blue Zones®?

Blue Zones® is a registered trademark of Dan Buettner and Blue Zones, LLC in the U.S. and other countries.

Learn More