Entry #8: The Blue Secret

 Imagine if someone told you there was a way to live longer and feel better, without any sort of insane juicing or fasting. This can be achieved without the need for a kale juice in the morning or eating food that tastes like sadness. Do I have your attention? Good, this can be done by following a simple concept, the Blue Zone Diet. There are five places in the world where people live so long and healthy, it kind of makes the rest of us look like we're aging in dog years. No, seriously. These regions- Okinawa (Japan), Sardinia (Italy), Nicoya (Costa Rica), Ikaria (Greece), and Loma Linda (California)- have unusually high numbers of people living into their 90s and beyond! With barely any wrinkles or chronic disease, they achieve this miraculous event without the need to live off of protein powder or chase the latest TikTok trend. So what are they doing? 

What's the Blue Zone Diet?

The Blue Zone Diet doesn't require any sort of ceremony to become a part of it or any sort of magic bean; it's simply real food. People in the Blue Zones eat mostly plants- think beans, veggies, whole grains, and nuts- and they don't obsess over it. Meat? A few times a month. Dairy? Occasionally. Processes snacks? Almost never. (Yes, even when they're on sale in bulk at Costco.) This diet is very similar to the Mediterranean diet I've previously talked about, but the Blue Zone is strictly plant-based.
A lot of the Blue Zone meals are things our grandmothers might've made for us before: hearty stews, roasted veggies, rice and beans, and homemade bread. My grandma, specifically, is from Central America, so she lives by her plants, and let's just say there is not a meal she doesn't include some sort of sprout or twig. Oh! And don't let me forget wine. Yes, in several Blue Zones, wine is consumed daily at the dinner table- but always in moderation. (Sorry, I can't justify killing a bottle of wine on a Thirsty Thursday night.)
Free Image: iStock

Why are the Blue Zones Important? 

Besides the obvious longevity and healthier life angle, the Blue Zone lifestyle hits different because it's not about the latest trends or setting restrictions. It's about eating well and living well-without making yourself miserable in the process. It's a lifestyle change. In a world where everything is either a "superfood" or "super processed," the Blue Zone diets offer a refreshingly non-extreme middle ground for us. Let's be honest with ourselves, we could use fewer energy drinks and more fiber in our systems. If you want to nerd out like I did and break down the nutrition side of things, visit Verywell Health for more information.

Blue Zones are a Community

Here's the catch in this lifestyle: food is just one part of it; it's a community. These communities walk everywhere, garden, nap (JEALOUS), they have strong social connections, and live with a clear sense of purpose. So in the end, it's not just what's on their plates, it's how they live their lives around the plate. It's about joy (stress-free), movement (staying physical), community, and maybe a little red wine doesn't hurt. 
So don't start trying to pack your bags to move to a remote Greek Island or anything too extreme. Instead, start by simply adding more plants, more people, and more purpose to your routine. You might just find yourself living a little longer, and a whole lot better! 

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