| After learning of author Dan Buettner's book Blue | | | | active. No, we cannot all farm and hoe - a chore |
| Zones, I became both inspired and awed. In Blue | | | | that doubles as a strengthening tool for biceps |
| Zones, Buettner tells of people not only who | | | | and quadriceps. Maintaining these major muscle |
| were living longer lives, but happier and healthier | | | | groups (quads, biceps, and chest) is vital to aging |
| lives as well. These "Blue Zones" were scarcely | | | | well. Hip and knee fractures are top ailments in |
| scattered over our vast earth - Sardinia (Italy), | | | | people over 65. Yet on the Blue Zone Map, |
| Okinawa (Japan), Loma Linda (California), and | | | | citizens of 98, 99, and up to 104 years of age |
| Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula are each considered | | | | were walking, gardening, even cruising along the |
| a Blue Zone. | | | | streets easily on their bicycles. There are very |
| Disheartened, I stared at my world map, knowing | | | | basic exercises we can all do to reap these exact |
| it would be a far stretch thinking I could get to | | | | benefits that a farmer in Costa Rica does. A |
| these distant places any time soon. So, I thought, | | | | simple squat, for example will give your legs the |
| what are some of the attainable common | | | | maintenance they need to support our heavy |
| denominators in these "Blue Zones?" The answers | | | | bodies as we age. |
| were surprisingly simple. | | | | KEEP BUSY! Buettner talks of the 95 year-old |
| The most obvious common factor was food; | | | | heart surgeon who still goes to work every day! |
| what we put into our bodies. I guess it's really | | | | He does this not out of pressure to keep up with |
| nothing new. If you can't grow your own food - | | | | the Jones's! He works because he wants to - |
| BUY ORGANICALLY! Prepare from scratch. | | | | because it continues to challenge his brain. We are |
| Almost all of those populating the Blue Zones ate | | | | not meant to be stagnant. And on that note... no |
| little to no animal products (including fish and dairy | | | | stress... easier said than done right? These people |
| in some places). There was a higher than normal | | | | in the Blue Zones seemed to have family and |
| amount of calcium in most of these peoples diets. | | | | friends in continuous close quarters. They were |
| Although this occurred naturally in the drinking | | | | having fun. Letting go. There was a definite link to |
| water, we can achieve this by taking Calcium | | | | spiritualism as well. Whether it was the people of |
| Magnesium supplements with Vitamin D...or | | | | Okinawa Japan, or the Seventh Day Adventists in |
| preferably, a healthy dose of sunshine. The way | | | | Loma Linda California, ritualistic forms of gratitude |
| in which we intake our food also seems to be | | | | were prominent and practiced. Worrying seemed |
| relevant. The Nicoyans in particular, ate they're | | | | useless to people who surrendered to the notion |
| largest meals in the morning and each meal | | | | of something bigger than they were, pulling the |
| decreased in size as their day progressed. When | | | | strings. Residents of these Blue Zones share a |
| you think about it, it makes sense. We as human | | | | common thread - they are all quite present in |
| beings, naturally produce Melatonin after nightfall. | | | | their different lives, able to cherish every sacred |
| Melatonin is what helps us sleep soundly. Any kind | | | | minute of it. |
| of stimulant, including food, disrupts our natural | | | | These are all tangible goals! Good luck! Live Long! |
| sleep progression - start strong and wind down. | | | | Be Happy and Healthy! |
| Another key to living long and healthy was staying | | | | |