Being BLUE is good for YOU

There are so many things to read out there, especially about health issues, and so much of it is complete crap. It's difficult to wade through it all and seize upon things that will actually do us some good. You've got to dig though a lot of sand to find a few clams. I thought I would pass this along. Dan Buettner has done a lot of legitimate research on why some groups of people live to be over 80 and in some places over 100. There are six regions on the planet that he has studied where this happens with much greater statistical frequency, and he calls these the Blue Zones (from a blue line drawn around them on their map.) You can read this book if you like, and you can go on line at bluezones.com and learn a lot about his ongoing study of people in these areas. He has found that these regions share many things in common which he calls the "Power 9." In other ways the people are very different and follow health and lifestyle practices that are not ideal by Western Medical standards. These are the 9 constants in all of the Blue Zone regions of the world. Notice that the words cholesterol and prescription medicines are not on the list. And Gold's Gym is not mentioned either.

1) Find ways of moving mindlessly, that make activity unavoidable

2) Have a purpose in life, no matter how personal or small

3) Downshift, work less, rest, take more vacations

4) Stop eating when you are 80% full

5) Eat lots more vegetables and fruits

6) Drink a glass or two of RED WINE every day

7) Belong. Create a family social network

8) Participate in some religious or spiritual belief practices

9) Make your family or "tribe" a priority

These things mean exactly what they say and the variations you may elect are endless. Examples of movement include taking the stairs, parking farther away and walking, and living in a community where the parking is bad and you have to walk everywhere (downtown Nantucket or Manhattan). Your purpose could be saving the whales (too late here) or building a business. Just have your own purpose, something that makes you want to get out of bed in the morning and lose yourself in the flow. Find ways to work smarter not longer hours. Come to places like this and relax, have a couple of glasses of wine, red preferred, Chianti, Pinot Noir, it does not matter. Have a group of real friends and talk to them, Spend time with them. I am not referring to business associates, I mean people who understand you and like you anyway. People you can tell personal things to and know they want to help. A coffee-klatch at the mall works. The Wharf Rats is another option.

As for religion and spirituality. The choices are endless. It just statistically works out that people who attend some form of worship or practice spirituality tend to live longer. And finally, family is everything. Hang around them and be a part of what they are doing. In the Blue Zones, from great grandparents to small children, everyone has a role. If all you can do is stir the soup or wipe the table, then that is your family job. It is necessary and so are you.

In future posts, I will discuss specific western and integrative medical ideas that we can ease into our lives, but for now, take a lesson from people in the BLUE ZONES who not only live long, but also healthy and useful lives because they walk everywhere they can (not 30 minutes at the gym then sit and drive for the rest of the day) have a purpose, are part of a larger something...community, family, congregation, eat less meat and smaller portions, drink a little wine, and are "important" members of their family for their entire lives and never become "furniture." Look at your own life and see which among these "9" is/are "missing." The Book and the project behind it does not say that everyone who does these things will live to be a hundred. But the message is clear that societies which have these 9 principles at their core, statistically live better and longer lives. And, none of these things have to get in the way of success and happiness in our american culture. One of the Blue Zones is right in California among the very successful, and medically advanced Seventh Day Adventists of Loma Linda.