Facts and Myths you need to know about Blue Zone

What is Blue Zone?

Blue zone refers to geographic areas in which people have low rates of chronic disease and live longer up to the age of 100 normally. They have identified 5 “Blue Zone” in the world. They are:

1. Okinawa (Japan)

This largest island in a subtropical archipelago is home to the world’s oldest women, who eat a lot of soy-based foods and also practice Tai Chi (a meditative form of exercise).

2. Sardinia (Italy),

This mountainous island of Italy is home to the world’s oldest men, who live in mountainous regions and work on farms and drink a lot of wine. 

3. Nicoya (Costa Rica)

This strong faith community people follow a diet that is based around beans and corn tortillas. The people regularly perform physical jobs in old age, have deep social networks, and have a sense of life purpose known as “plan de vida”.

4. Icaria (Greece),

On this island, people eat a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil, red wine, and homegrown vegetables. 

5. Seventh-day Adventists, Loma Linda (California)

Here, this community people are religious and live 10 more healthy years than the average Americans. They follow a strict biblical vegetarian diet and live in tight-knit communities. 

This concept of “Blue Zone” is a non-scientific term given to geographic regions that are home to some of the world's oldest people. 

This name was first used by author Dan Buettner, who was studying areas of the world in which people live exceptionally long lives. 

One common factor is the diet in the Blue Zones are typically rich in:

• Vegetables: It is a great source of fiber and many vitamins and minerals. They eat over five servings of fruits and vegetables a day that can reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, and death.
• Legumes: This includes beans, peas, lentils, and chickpeas, which are rich in fiber and protein, and includes lower mortality.
• Whole grains: It is rich in fiber, reduces blood pressure, colorectal cancer, and death from heart disease.
• Nuts: It is also rich in fiber, protein, polyunsaturated and monosaturated fats. If we take it with a healthy diet, then it can reduce mortality and also help reverse metabolic syndrome.

Some of the other dietary factors used in certain areas like Icaria and Sardinia are fish. They found it to be a good source of omega-3 fats, which is important for reducing heart disease and slower brain decline in old age. 

The study shows that people in Blue Zone eat a 95% plant-based diet that’s rich in legumes, whole grains, vegetables, and nuts and these help them reduce the risk of death. 

I feel after this pandemic situation everyone has to focus mainly on health than regret it later. So let’s change the diet to healthy ones.