What is the Blue Zone Diet, and should you try it?
The “Blue Zone” is a term for regions of the world where people tend to live longer lives, often reaching to age 90 or even 100 year and beyond. Whole Blood Metabolomics in Aging Research
There are five known Blue Zones:
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Okinawa, Japan
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Icaria, Greece
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Sardinia, Italy
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Nicoya, Costa Rica
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Loma Linda, California
Research shows that while aging is influenced by your genes, interestingly genetics only account for 20 – 30 % of longevity. Therefore, environmental influences, including diet and lifestyle, play a huge role in determining your lifespan. Healthy diet is associated with gene expression in blood: the Framingham Heart Study
While the Blue Zone diet is not strictly vegetarian or vegan, one thing common is that those who live there primarily eat a 95% plant-based diet. Beyond calories
Although these Blue Zones are scattered all over the world, their diets and lifestyles share some similarities. For example, people in these areas tend to exercise more and eat lots of vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and legumes. Their lifestyle may differ slightly, but they all get enough sleep, exercise regularly, drink moderate amount of alcohol and have good spiritual, family, and social networks. Purpose in Life and Its Relationship to Al
Each of these lifestyle factors has been shown to be associated with a longer life. Factors That May Enhance Longevity
By incorporating them into your lifestyle, it may be possible for you to add a few years to your life.
Purpose in life as a predictor of mortality across adulthood