People in the Green Zone live long lives because they regularly dance, rest, spend time on hobbies, and bond with loved ones, instead of overworking themselves.
The Blue Zones are five regions in the world with the longest-living and healthiest populations: Okinawa (Japan), Sardinia (Italy), Nicoya (Costa Rica), Ikaria (Greece), and Loma Linda (USA). Longevity expert and National Geographic explorer Dan Buettner spent years studying the lifestyles of people in these areas, discovering the reasons why they live to over 100 years old.
He pointed out that the key to longevity sometimes doesn't lie in expensive diets or high-intensity exercise. People in the Green Zone have incredibly simple habits at the age of 80, 90, or 100, such as enjoying wine, dancing, or even eating plenty of carbs.
"Their secret is knowing how to enjoy life, instead of working themselves to exhaustion," Buettner writes in his newly released book , Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones .
Eating too many carbohydrates
Long-time residents of Ikaria consume a variety of carbohydrate-rich foods from whole grains, beans, and vegetables. In addition, they favor raw, unprocessed honey, which may offer health benefits such as lowering cholesterol.
Not only Greece, but also the Okinawa region of Japan considers carbohydrate-rich foods like purple sweet potatoes to be key to a healthy body in later middle age.
Dancing
Another common characteristic of people in the Green Zones is their habit of "exercising but not going to the gym." Areas like Nicoya, Costa Rica, have a strong festival culture. They frequently hold dance parties.
The Greeks have a traditional event called panegyris. According to Buettner, they dance all night long, engaging in many lively activities together. In fact, an hour of dancing burns the same number of calories as an hour of jogging. According to Harvard Health, dancing can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Dancing has health benefits comparable to running. Photo: Insider
Take time to be lazy.
People in the Green Zone value a relaxed work environment. They frequently "quiet quit," working minimally to dedicate more time to their favorite activities and building strong relationships with family and friends.
"People won't choose to work extra hours when they could use that time to be with family, take a nap, or socialize with friends," Buettner explained.
In Sardinia, Italy, people have a concept called "happy hour," lasting from 5 pm to 9 pm for aperitif drinking sessions. In Nicoya, Costa Rica, people typically work for a few hours in the morning, then take a nap.
"Part of the common values of Green Zones is slowing down to enjoy life. This helps them reduce stress even while remaining productive and active," Buettner said.
Drink alcohol in moderation.
Buettner discovered that people in the Ikaria region of Greece regularly enjoy wine. However, there is currently no research concluding that drinking wine is a healthy habit. Buettner suggests that the wine in Ikaria is of higher quality, and the environment and context in which the people enjoy wine are also different.
According to research, wine produced using traditional methods, without added chemicals, contains small amounts of essential minerals such as potassium and iron, plus antioxidants, which reduce the risk of heart disease.
However, many experts advise that "there is no safe amount of alcohol." Those who have never drunk alcohol should not start doing so thinking it is beneficial to their health. Alcohol may be beneficial for socializing, reducing stress, and as a source of antioxidants, especially natural, high-quality wines.
"That's enough for me to enjoy a glass of wine every night," Buettner said.
Thuc Linh (According to Insider )
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