Photo credit: Sabrina Rifkin

An image shows Jaya Srinivasan (’28) spinning a globe while standing behind a map. The Blue Zones are five different places around the world where people live longer because of their unique ways of life specific to their location. Some of these practices include constantly being active by sheep farming in Sardinia, Italy, and maintaining a strong sense of community by gathering in groups called “moai ”in Okinawa, Japan.

What if I told you you had the chance to live 10 years longer than the average American? This is a reality that people living in the Blue Zones actually experience. 

Blue Zones are defined by having the highest number of centenarians, which are people who live to age 100 or older. Blue Zones were first discovered in the early 2000s by researchers, who first marked them on a map using a blue marker. There are five main Blue Zones around the world: Okinawa, Japan; Ikaria, Greece; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; and Loma Linda, California.

Journalist Dan Buettner worked with National Geographic to learn more about how the people living in these five drastically different places all have one major thing in common: longevity. In his book, Buettner writes, “In Blue Zones, people don’t try to be healthy — they just live in environments that make healthy living easy.” After extensive research, Buettner compiled a list of nine key characteristics all five locations have in common. He calls these the “Power 9.”

These habits are listed below:

1. Eating a primarily plant-based diet.
2. Monitoring calorie intake, including doing intermittent fasting.
3. Avoiding alcohol entirely or drinking in moderation, primarily red wine.
4. Embracing a sense of purpose in their lives.
5. Following a daily lifestyle that encourages natural, vigorous movement.
6. Adopting some form of daily stress relief.
7. Incorporating religion or spirituality in their lives.
8. Establishing stable and extended family structures, such as young and old relatives living together.
9. Developing supportive social networks and lifelong friendships.

However, not every person in all five locations follows these habits exactly. The most common rituals vary depending on the location. For example, Harvard Health Publishing explains that in Sardinia, Italy, sheep farming is an occupation many people have, and it consists of at least five miles of walking up and down the mountains. As a result, Sardinia has the highest number of men that live to at least 100 years old. This is partly because they are constantly moving their bodies throughout daily life.

Another example of a habit specific to one of the Blue Zones is in Okinawa, Japan. People often gather in groups called “moai.” These groups of friends and family provide immense feelings of support and belonging throughout one’s entire life. This is an example of the ninth power in the Power 9: “Developing supportive social networks and lifelong friendships.”

Another factor specific to Blue Zones is the lasting tradition and connection to the past. Researchers reported that modern technology has transitioned slower into Blue Zones compared to other locations. One researcher noted that during a trip to the Mediterranean region during the 1960s, few people drove cars, choosing to walk instead. Upon returning a decade later, he observed that motorcycles and tractors became widely used. This investigation shows that over time Blue Zones are becoming more modernized, specifically through the implementation of vehicles. This reduces the amount of walking and daily movement, which is a key factor of the Blue Zones.

Some scientists believe that there isn’t enough accurate data to confirm that Blue Zones are so extraordinary. Research doesn’t 100% confirm that people in Blue Zones follow all of the Power 9 habits exactly. However, we can learn about all of the possible practices people living in Blue Zones incorporate into their daily lives and translate these amazing and potentially life-changing techniques into our own lives.