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Do People in Certain Areas of the World Really Live Longer? Yes!
February 10, 2010
I’d always heard rumors about there being groups of people in certain areas of the world who lived much longer than anyone else. But I always wondered if it was true or not. Then I read an interesting article about author and adventurer, Dan Buettner, who has actually “identified several locations where an unusually high number of people live to be 100.” Where are these locations and what can we learn from this information in order to live longer lives? Read on…
The four geographic areas Buettner identified are:
- Okinawa
- Sardinia
- The Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica
- Loma Linda, California, United States
Key commonalities of these groups: “The people live in tight-knit communities, have active lifestyles, and eat a diet rich in vegetables.”
Further, Buettner and his team also uncovered an amazing group of people on the Greek island of Ikaria. People living on this island are “three times more likely to reach age 90 than in the U.S. They will also have about 20% less cancer, half the rate of cardiovascular disease, and almost no dementia.” Those are some pretty amazing statistics!
Based on their research, here’s what Buettner believes helps contribute to the Ikarian’s longevity:
- Their diet: It includes a lot of vegetables (especially wild greens), fruits, whole grains, and fish.
- Physical activity: The island is very hilly so they get exercise every day.
- Naps: They take naps on a regular basis (“People who nap at least five times a week for half an hour have 35% less chance of cardiovascular disease”).
What can the rest of us learn from the Ikarian’s and the other four groups? Here are my key take-aways:
- We should incorporate more vegetables, whole grains, and fish into our diet – raw vegetables are especially good items to add.
- We should try to get at least 30 minutes of some type of exercise each day – try parking farther away from the building at work or taking a ‘walking’ break each day before you eat lunch.
- We should ensure we are getting enough sleep each night and consider supplementing our sleep with a few short naps each week (“It’s good for your brain to get some rest”).
All of these things are great ways to not only attempt to live longer, but to live healthier and more enjoyable lives, and I’m all for that!!
~ Lisa Quast
Source: Article, “Secrets of a Longer Life”, by Josh Dean
http://health.msn.com/health-topics/aging/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100246102
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