Blue Zones are often talked about. These are places on earth where we see exceptionally long life-spans.
Their climate, diet, social (family and community) structure and general way of living means that they often live to 100+ years. These include areas such as Okinawa (Japan).
The way these people live makes a lot of sense:
- A balanced diet, including carbohydrate, fruit, protein and some saturated fat (very little polyunsaturated fat). Fairly frequent meals.
- Great connection with family and community
- A strong support network for the elderly
- Plenty of sunlight
- Exposure to the ocean
- Practices including Qigong, Yoga, Tai Chi – all of which include breath work and help to down-regulate the nervous system
- Exposure to the earth (grass, dirt) and more “minimal” footwear
In the west, where we read a lot about these cultures, we explore a number of ways to improve our own health and longevity. Once a week or so, a “study” comes out in one of our papers touting a new method of training, or way of eating (or not eating).
Here are some of the ideas that I’ve seen fairly regularly:
- A diet eliminating any one macronutrient. Sugar free, fat free, lactose free, egg free…
- A diet devoid of eating at all. Someone is forgetting that we are human. Fasting is hugely popular, despite long term downsides
- A great connection with the internet and our phones
- A fear of sunlight
- A preference for chlorinated swimming pools
- Practices including endurance sports, circuit training, aerobics. All “breathless” exercise that are ultimately catabolic
- An abundance of heavy, strong, “supportive” shoes and little connection with the earth
When we contrast the two, it’s quite remarkable that despite our desire to emulate the results of the Blue Zone, we have a pretty strong resistance to adopting many of their methods.
Anyway, we can sit on it for a bit until we get some more direction on how to live from the next influencer on instagram or TV show.
