Why People on This Tiny Greek Island Live so Much Longer Than the Rest of the World

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Buettner and his team of researchers pinpoint nine specific lifestyle habits that are common to Ikaria and people who live in areas with the highest life expectancy.

1. Incorporate natural movement throughout the day

Even in old age, Blue Zone inhabitants continue to live very physical and active lifestyles. Rather than being habitually sedentary or having set aside time for exercise, jobs and social activities keep them moving all day.

2. Eat a plant-based diet

The diet in Blue Zones largely comprises of seasonal vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and nuts. It’s estimated that 95 percent to 100 percent of the food consumed is plant-based.

3. Have a purpose

This is your reason for getting up in the morning and what keeps these communities motivated into older age.

4. Put family and loved ones first

Family is the top priority in Blue Zones. In many of these cultures, elders will live with children or grandchildren, and families gather and eat together daily.

5. Enjoy a glass of red wine

Four out of the five Blue Zones incorporate moderate drinking into their daily lives. Red wine, which has natural antioxidants, polyphenols, and anthocyanins, is a common favorite beverage.

6. Stop eating when you’re 80 percent full

Many of the residents in the communities in Blue Zones take time to eat mindfully and consume much smaller portions than those typically served in the US.

7. Follow a faith or religion

During Buettner’s initial research for his two books, he interviewed 263 centenarians from the five Blue Zones. Only three out of the 263 were not a member of a faith-based community.

8. Stay loyal to a tribe

Having a tight-knit healthy and positive thinking community directly affects mental health. The research into Blue Zones has found that these strong support systems exert a positive influence and encourage healthy behavior.

9. Take time to de-stress

Low-stress lifestyle is common among all Blue Zone regions. Chronic stress is all but uncommon with residents and they claim this is because of the combination of their holistically healthy lifestyle.