Are you looking for the secret to living a longer, healthier life? The Blue Zones might be able to shed some light on the matter.
Blue Zones are the five regions of the world where people supposedly live the longest - Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Icaria, Greece; Lona Linda, California.
Sardinia, the neighboring island of Sicily (where FaroMia was inspired), was actually the first Blue Zone to be established.
What can we learn from the people in these regions? Check out the key findings below.
- 80% rule - listen to your body. Americans have developed the habit of overeating. People in the Blue Zones practice eating until they are 80% full.
- Learn to appreciate and prioritize real, whole foods - one thing common to all Blue Zones is that the populations primarily eat a 95% plant-based diet. Though they are not strict vegetarians, they focus their food around vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts (like almonds), olive oil, meat in moderation, poultry, fish, and lots of herbs and spices.
- Spend time with family and loved ones - get outside in nature and focus on nurturing relationships with loved ones. It helps to relieve stress and strengthen social ties. Establish a sense of belonging.
- Exercise, but make it fun - in today’s society people make exercise unproductive and unenjoyable. In blue zones, people don’t exercise in gyms. Rather, they lead active lives and walk a lot. Make exercise natural again.
- Avoid processed foods - one of the most notable findings in the blue zone diets is that they are low in pesticides, artificial ingredients, and sugar.
So there you have it - the top 5 characteristics of the Blue Zone lifestyle. What can you incorporate into your life today?