Lessons blue zones offer for living longer, healthier lives

(Aging Untold) — People are living longer, and certain regions around the world offer insights into how to age well.

Blue zones are regions where people live 7 to 10 years longer than the average American and they have an unusually high number of centenarians — people who have celebrated their 100th birthday.

“Living longer isn’t about one habit. It’s about your environment. Now, that doesn’t mean necessarily your physical environment,” Sam Cradduck, a gerontologist, said.

One blue zone, Loma Linda, California, is located in the United States.

Cradduck said Loma Linda is a blue zone despite having a lot of smog.

What contributes to longevity in blue zones

“When you think, wait a minute, these people are living in the smog and they’re in a blue zone. What are they doing different?” Cradduck said. “It’s not necessarily where you live. It’s how you live.”

Living longer is not about one habit.

Relationships play a key role in longevity.

Amy O’Rourke, an aging expert, described the positive feelings she gets from talking to a close friend, eating lunch or volunteering, and feeling a sense of purpose

“If I establish that and have that in my daily life, how that makes me feel,” O’Rourke said.

Engagement, purpose and physical activity are important factors, along with clean eating, Dr. Rhea Rogers, a board-certified physician, said.

“That allows you to apply those principles and bring it to wherever you are for that improved quality of life,” Rogers said.

Having plans and feeling useful contribute to better aging, Katherine Ambrose, an aging-well coach, said.

Quality of life over quantity

Living to 100 is only desirable if it is done in good health, Cradduck said.

“I don’t want to be here more years than my body wants me to be here,” Cradduck said. “Living longer is great. Living better is even greater.”

O’Rourke recommended implementing small changes, such as parking farther away to get more steps or using a bathroom farther away to keep the body moving.

Rogers emphasized the difference between healthspan and lifespan.

“It’s not so much that we don’t maybe want to become centenarians or super centenarians. It’s that we don’t want to live in pain or, you know, not really live. We want to feel good,” Ambrose said. “If we’re feeling good, we’re OK with it.”