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experiencelifemag.com
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Into the Wild Blue Yonder
An intrepid explorer studying the world's longest-living cultures finds that living long and living well are often one and the same.
By Eliza Thomas |
July-August 2006 |
Centuries of explores have scoured
the globe in search of the storied fountain of youth. Minnesota-based extreme adventurer and educator Dan Buettner
(see "Forever Young") believes he’s found
it — in the so-called longevity cultures
of a handful of long-living communities
around the world.
These regions, dubbed “Blue Zones”
by Buettner, lead the planet for life expectancy, disability-free life expectancy (a measure of quality of life in old age), or concentrations of centenarians.
Take Sardinia, Italy, where the female-to-male ratio of
centenarians is nearly one-to-one (compared to four-to-one in
the United States). Or Okinawa, Japan, whose senior residents
enjoy possibly the world’s longest life expectancy while suffering just one-fifth of the heart disease,
one-fourth of the breast and prostate
cancer, and one-third less dementia
than their American counterparts.
Backed by such auspicious patrons
as the National Institute on Aging,
the National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke, and the National
Geographic Society, Buettner leads the
Blue Zones project, a long-term study of
these exceptionally enduring populations. As a key part of his investigative
efforts, Buettner also mounts multimedia-savvy scientific
expeditions that explore these cultures and populations
on the ground and then beam back daily reports and video
via satellite.
The interactive Blue Zones Web site lets classrooms of
kids get in on the action, and even help direct the expedition
as it happens. Best of all, kids can get personally involved
in living a healthier life by taking up a BlueZones Challenge
designed especially for them.
Traditions to Adopt
Studies have shown that up to 70 percent of how well
we age can be attributed to our lifestyle, Buettner says. “We
take a look at the lifestyle in each Blue Zone and try to
scientifically distill down a longevity recipe that Americans
can live by.”
On the Blue Zones Web site, Buettner shares the first
of his findings in 10 film shorts created during his October
2005 Blue Zone visit to Okinawa. “Each of the 10 bring to life
one of the longevity habits of highly successful centenarians,”
he explains. “The habits include things like surrounding
yourself with family and friends, living with your parents
and grandparents, exploring your faith and spirituality,
getting daily exercise, eating a rainbow of colors, finding a
sense of purpose, and simply getting married.”
Upcoming Blue Zones expeditions include spots in
Central America, Italy and right here in the United States.
For more Blue Zones findings and more updates from the
frontlines of the world’s longevity cultures (including the
newest identified Blue Zone to be announced this October),
tune in at www.bluezones.com.
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Into the Wild Blue Yonder
An intrepid explorer studying the world's longest-living cultures finds that living long and living well are often one and the same.
By Eliza Thomas | Web Extra
July-August 2006 |
Centuries of explores have scoured
the globe in search of the storied fountain of youth. Minnesota-based extreme adventurer and educator Dan Buettner
(see "Forever Young") believes he’s found
it — in the so-called longevity cultures
of a handful of long-living communities
around the world.
These regions, dubbed “Blue Zones”
by Buettner, lead the planet for life expectancy, disability-free life expectancy (a measure of quality of life in old age), or concentrations of centenarians.
Take Sardinia, Italy, where the female-to-male ratio of
centenarians is nearly one-to-one (compared to four-to-one in
the United States). Or Okinawa, Japan, whose senior residents
enjoy possibly the world’s longest life expectancy while suffering just one-fifth of the heart disease,
one-fourth of the breast and prostate
cancer, and one-third less dementia
than their American counterparts.
Backed by such auspicious patrons
as the National Institute on Aging,
the National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke, and the National
Geographic Society, Buettner leads the
Blue Zones project, a long-term study of
these exceptionally enduring populations. As a key part of his investigative
efforts, Buettner also mounts multimedia-savvy scientific
expeditions that explore these cultures and populations
on the ground and then beam back daily reports and video
via satellite.
The interactive Blue Zones Web site lets classrooms of
kids get in on the action, and even help direct the expedition
as it happens. Best of all, kids can get personally involved
in living a healthier life by taking up a BlueZones Challenge
designed especially for them.
Traditions to Adopt
Studies have shown that up to 70 percent of how well
we age can be attributed to our lifestyle, Buettner says. “We
take a look at the lifestyle in each Blue Zone and try to
scientifically distill down a longevity recipe that Americans
can live by.”
On the Blue Zones Web site, Buettner shares the first
of his findings in 10 film shorts created during his October
2005 Blue Zone visit to Okinawa. “Each of the 10 bring to life
one of the longevity habits of highly successful centenarians,”
he explains. “The habits include things like surrounding
yourself with family and friends, living with your parents
and grandparents, exploring your faith and spirituality,
getting daily exercise, eating a rainbow of colors, finding a
sense of purpose, and simply getting married.”
Upcoming Blue Zones expeditions include spots in
Central America, Italy and right here in the United States.
For more Blue Zones findings and more updates from the
frontlines of the world’s longevity cultures (including the
newest identified Blue Zone to be announced this October),
tune in at www.bluezones.com.
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