Since ancient times, humans have been exploring the mysteries of longevity. We have heard many legends of immortality in Chinese mythology, and in Western countries, people have been looking for the imaginary "elixir of life".
Today, although it is not possible to break through the limits of life, the average life expectancy of human beings has been greatly extended by the dual role of medical and social progress - by 2050, the number of centenarians in the world will increase by as much as eight times compared to today.
Why, then, is there a particular concentration of centenarians in some areas?What is the special lifestyle of the long-lived residents in these places?
To unravel these secrets, a multinational team of doctors, statisticians, and epidemiologists has been investigating and researching for decades.
Eventually, they identified five regions in the world with the highest percentage of long-lived people and called them "blue zones."
The five "Blue Zones" are: Sardinia in Italy, Okinawa in Japan, Ikaria in Greece, Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica, and Roman Linda in California, USA.
These places have been dubbed "forgotten paradises" because of the staggering proportion of residents who live a long life. Like Ikaria, where one-third of its inhabitants live past the age of 90, Okinawa is home to some of the world's longest-lived women.
The reason for this is that although the inhabitants of these regions live in different countries, they have many commonalities in their lifestyles and Xi, which also allows them to live forever.
First, their diet is high-quality, and the main ingredients are mainly local products. For example, Okinawans often eat sweet potatoes, kelp, and a variety of fresh seafood, such as corn, pumpkin, and beans, which are unique to the region.
These foods are rich in nutrients that are beneficial for the cardiovascular and immune systems. The islanders also retain the traditional way of cooking, and do not consume much fat. In addition, regardless of the East and the West, they also have the Xi of moderate drinking.
Second, these long-lived seniors have a very active lifestyle, maintaining a "youthful" body and spirit throughout their lives. For example, the inhabitants of Sardinia are still self-sufficient, hunting in the mountains and fishing at the beach, and the elderly people in Okinawa are busy every day and look forward to each day.
This long-term physical activity relieves their physical strength and gives them a constant sense of accomplishment.
Thirdly, there is a harmonious community culture in these areas, where older persons retain a clear social role and a sense of need. For example, the inhabitants of the Nicoya Peninsula will have multiple families in a village, and a close-knit social "network" will bring meaning to their lives.
For example, the residents of Roman Linda will carry out volunteer services under the organization of the church, which also satisfies the sense of social responsibility of the elderly.
In summary, there are three common characteristics in these longevity settlements around the world: first, a fresh and high-quality local diet, second, a lifelong active lifestyle, and third, a positive mindset and a sense of purpose in life.
It is the combined effect of these qualities that allows them to live a long life, and even a super-long life. In today's society, we can't fully imitate the entire way of life in these regions.
To sum up, as ordinary people, we can learn from this. For example, increase the intake of vegetables and fruits each week, participate in some community sports activities, and cultivate your hobbies. This will undoubtedly have a positive effect on physical and mental health and longevity.