Lifestyle habits of the world's healthiest and longest-lived people - Blue Zones - Burgess parkrun #519 - 18/05/24

Last week I was in Finland, which for the past 6 years has been ranked the happiest place in the world by the World Happiness Report 2023. I really did have a very happy time (which you can read about here). This week I thought I’d turn my attention to the lifestyle habits of the world's healthiest and longest-lived people.  

Many of my happiest times are shared with friends.

A friend had recommended I watch the four-part Netflix series titled; Live to be 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones, it’s a fascinating watch. 

Blue zones are regions in the world which have the highest concentration of centenarians living in excellent health. Dan Buettner, an explorer and journalist, along with a team of scientists and demographers, undertook this project in 2004 building on The Danish Twin Study which established that 20% of how long the average person lives is determined by genes, meaning the remaining 80% has to do with lifestyle. Dan and his team identified 5 blue zones which are certain areas in, 1. Okinawa, Japan, 2. Sardinia, Italy, 3. Nicoya, Costa Rica, 4. Ikaria, Greece and 5. Loma Lina, California. 

The Blue Zones are in different parts of the world, with the people eating very different foods, but Dan and his team drew out 9 lifestyle habits, called the Power 9, across 4 areas, which existed among all 5 Blue Zones. These are; 

1. Move - regular movement

2. Right outlook - purpose + downshift

3. Eat wisely - 80% rule + eat a predominantly plant-based diet + wine at 1700

4. Connect - right tribe + loved ones first + belong  

Family time is important in Blue Zones. Photo credit Shveta Shah

It struck me how regular participation in parkrun could provide several of these Power 9 suggestions. 

Today perfectly illustrated this. I was one of two Tail Walkers for the day, the other being Kimberley who I’d never met before. The shared activity offered us the opportunity to ‘downshift’, to ‘connect’ and diluted the sense of loneliness that can come from living in a city of 10 million people far away from family and home (Kimberley’s home is in New Zealand).  

Throughout the morning, at parkrun, I had so many uplifting conversations with people I only know from attending the event, including Chris, who celebrated his 80th birthday at Burgess parkrun earlier in the year. I left feeling richer for it all.

Dan has produced several books including The Blue Zones Challenge a four-week guide and a year-long sustainability program to help build your own Blue Zones lifestyle, I’m definitely going to check this out. 

There is also The Blue Zones Kitchen, a cookbook which I’m hoping someone will think will be a great belated birthday present for me 😀

Containing recipes from the Blue Zones, author Dan Buettnercredit

The arrival of the fun fair means Burgess parkrun will be closed for the next two weeks providing the perfect opportunity to do some parkrun tourism, somewhere new beckons, somewhere ‘Blue’.   

My friends and family are spread all over the world, it's always great when we can meet up. Photo credit Sharon Wallace

Happy running 

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