Is There a Fountain of Youth?

Ever wonder why some people live longer than others? Is it clean living, some secret they know that other don’t, good genetics, or just luck?

Journalist Dan Buettner asked this question and set out on a journey to answer it. With the help of National Geographic, he sought out the cultures from around the world whose lifespans are the longest.

These are the cultures he pinpointed as longevity hotbeds:

Okinawa, Japan
The Greek island of Ikaria
Loma Linda, California
Sardinia, and Italian island
The Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica

Then Dan studied each of these cultures to find out what it was that was allowing their citizens to live so long. Specifically, he was looking for things that they all had in common.

What he found was simple answers that aren’t huge surprises, but perhaps deserve more of our attention. He broke everything down into four categories:

1. Movement – Your life should include regular physical activity. The cultures above all have a daily life that incorporates lots of walking, carrying, or gentle labor of some kind. If your life doesn’t present those opportunities, then participating in regular, structured exercise is a good idea.

2. Positive Outlook – Having a purpose in life gives you meaning, and keeping a positive outlook helps you deal with stress in a more healthy way.

3. Eat Right – This category is probably where many of us need the most work. People in Blue Zones eat far less processed foods and meat, and eat a lot more fruits and vegetables. They also eat much less in terms of total calories per day. Dan suggests following the 80% rule, where you stop eating when you feel that you are 80% full. Most of us eat until we’re 100% full, and then we still finish whatever’s left on the plate, and then we have desert.

4. Belonging – You need to be a part of something, be it a family, your church, or the people you play cards with. These groups are good because they give you something to look forward to, a reason to get out of the house, mental stimulation, and emotional support.

Looking at the above list, I think it’s safe to say that you can probably incorporate all these things into your life without moving to Japan or Costa Rica. Take a moment and write down one thing that you can do to help you in each category. Then take daily action in each of these categories and enjoy a long and meaningful life.

(Dan’s book is called “The Blue Zones,” and can be found in bookstores everywhere).

10 Tips for a Healthier Life

If you're going to live longer, you'll also want to do balance exercises regularly so you reduce your risk of falling.