Jeovany Tzilin Gomez
Staff Writer
Blue Zone diets have been suggested to promote longevity and other health benefits through mindful behavior and clean eating.
The term was coined by Dan Buettner, a National Geographic journalist, during his 2000 exploratory project investigating the lifespans of residents of Okinawa, Japan. Buettner thereafter identified five different Blue Zones: Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Loma Linda, California; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece. Each region located in a different part of the world represents a unique approach to this concept of an age-extending diet based on the regions themselves.
These diets typically consist of small- to moderate-portioned meals. These meals consist of many fruits and vegetables, beans, small amounts of fish, whole grains, and the occasional dessert for special events. Typical beverages are water, tea, and coffee.
Additionally, people in Blue Zones exercise with purpose, mindfully engaging in physical activities like walking to get from one place to another instead of driving a car. They also practice active hobbies. For example, many Okinawan residents enjoy tending to gardens, while Sardinians try to walk at least five miles a day.
Due to the fact that each Blue Zone is different, the types of food people in each area eat may vary from region to region. Okinawa, Japan, was one of the first Blue Zones that Buettner designated. Initially discovered in 1975 by the Okinawa Research Center for Longevity Science (ORCLS), this region has a long history of longevity diet practices. One of the main factors ORCLS found is that Okinawa is rich in plant-based foods, such as whole grain and soy products. These plants contain essential nutrients and are low in calories, which is effective for maintaining low rates of obesity and mitigating related health issues. Okinawans also have a special method of eating known as hara hachi bu, which means “eat until you are 80% full” in Japanese. This simply implies that people should eat until they don’t feel hungry, which prevents overconsumption.
Sardinia, Italy, is somewhat culturally isolated due to the geography of the island and a societal emphasis of maintaining strong familial relationships. The Sardinian diet consists of homegrown grapes, chickpeas, artichokes, whole grains, beans, mastic oil, and cheese from grass-fed sheep. They only eat meat on Sundays or during special occasions. Sardinian exercises mainly consist of their long daily walks, and they drink up to two cups of wine per day for lower levels of stress. Sardinians have a unique method of promoting longevity, which entails setting aside time to unite with loved ones and enjoy each other’s company.
Loma Linda, California, is a Blue Zone influenced by the Seventh-day Adventist beliefs of many people living there who are typically vegetarian, exercise regularly, and do not smoke or drink alcohol. However, some enjoy eating small amounts of meat as a side dish during regular meals. Additionally, many people consume tree nuts five times a week, which decreases the chance of developing heart disease. Adventists also encourage each other to give back to the community, which improves their own mental health by allowing them to act generously and with purpose.
While it has been shown that Blue Zone diets are beneficial for a person’s health, it is also challenging for most Americans to follow these lifestyles. Buettner claims that “Within the first 7 months of a diet, more than 90% of individuals will have given up,” which is on par with the 70 percent of people who quit their gym memberships after two years.
Buettner argues that small changes must be made to the urban environment in the United States for people to consider changing their diets. Such changes would include increasing access to healthier whole foods instead of fast foods, creating walk- or bike-friendly paths, and organizing community gathering events.
Overall, the Blue Zone diet is another alternative diet that people can try if they want to promote a healthier lifestyle that focuses on increasing vitality. However, under industrial, urbanized circumstances, it can discourage people from changing their diets if they don’t have the willpower to do so. People can learn what kind of fruits and vegetables they like to eat to implement them in their meals, set a daily routine to talk a walk or go to the gym for at least 30 minutes, and go to local social events that promote community building and bonding, which are part of core ideas of a Blue Zone diet.