What is the secret of longevity, diet, worship or moderation?

 What is the secret of longevity, diet, worship or moderation?

At first glance, you may not see any reason to consider any connection or similarity between these five areas. Nicoya in Costa Rica, Sardinia in Italy, Akaria in Greece, Okinawa in Japan and Loma Linda in California. All these areas are located at different corners of the world and there is nothing special about them.

But if you want a long and healthy life, these are probably the best places to be born. These areas are called Blue Zones where the probability of living to 100 years is ten times higher than the average probability in the United States.

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Italian epidemiologist Gianni Pisso and Belgian demographer Michael Poulin first coined the term blue zone. These two men were researching the mortality rate in Sardinia. During his research in the early 2000s, he marked areas in blue where people lived longer. These two researchers were working with an American journalist Dan Beutner. The same research of these people also came out in the form of a book in 2008.

Over the next 12 years, many scientists continued to research the Blue Zones and came up with many interesting theories about the reasons for the longevity of these areas.

1: Eat less, age more

Let's first review the general trends. As Beutner wrote in his book, all Blue Zones have certain characteristics in common.

The first thing is diet. Especially in the past, many people living in Blue Zones ate less than they were hungry. For example, elderly people living in Okinawa follow an ancient rule called 'Hara Hachi Bo' which means stop eating when your stomach is 80% full.

By following this method, the aging process is slowed down.

Roselyn Andreessen, who researches metabolism (the chemical process in the body and turns food into energy) and aging at the University of Wisconsin, has found from long-term animal research that macaques, a species of monkey, eat less than they are hungry and For this reason, they have a significantly lower risk of age-related diseases such as cancer and diabetes and heart disease. Even these animals look younger than their age and the color of the warm hair layer on their body also changes late i.e. gray.

We don't yet fully understand the full reasons for these benefits, but it seems that restricting calories reduces the body's accumulation of toxins that are produced as a result of metabolism. These toxins destroy our cells. Some scientists believe that eating less food and fewer calories puts less stress on the body and gives the body more opportunity to repair cells.

According to Didahili Govindaraju, a geneticist at Harvard University in the United States, restricting calories reduces the risk of harmful changes in DNA.

'Lowering calories reduces DNA damage and improves repair.' In addition, most of the diet in blue zones consists of vegetables and plants, which help maintain heart health.

2: Spiritual affiliation

Apart from eating and drinking habits, the social life of these people is also important. Those living in Blue Zones live like communities that are completely interconnected. It is now recognized that being around people and feeling a sense of closeness reduces stress. Participating in more mental and physical activities overall is better for health, to maintain friendships and connections in the community.

According to research by psychologist Julian Holt Linstead at Brigham Young University in the United States, good interpersonal relationships are as important to health as exercise and good nutrition.

Religion also plays an important role in social relations in Blue Zones. Most of Loma Linda's residents are Adventist Christians, while the people of Nicoya and Sardinia are Catholic, the people of Ikaria are Greek Orthodox Christians, and the local people of Okinawa follow the Raikwon religion.

This spiritual connection not only provides a social connection, but the observance of religious rituals also gives purpose to life, comfort in moments of sorrow. Due to this, overall life expectancy of people can be increased by one to five years.

3: Hot drinks

Apart from these similarities between Blue Zones, some other peculiar habits of the people there also give information about the secrets of longevity.

When it comes to certain dietary elements, it is interesting to note that residents of the Greek island of Akaria drink tea and coffee several times a day, and this habit is believed to be the reason for the low incidence of heart disease in the region. It has been revealed in several studies that drinking these hot drinks several times a day reduces the risk of heart diseases. Perhaps one of the reasons for this is that they contain micronutrients like magnesium, potassium, niacin and vitamin E, which help flush out many disease-causing toxins

Greek coffee brewed in thin cups is believed to be good for health because it releases substances that reduce inflammation in the body. Inflammation increases the risk of many age-related diseases, such as the build-up of substances in the arteries that cause heart attacks and strokes. Therefore, regular consumption of beverages like Greek coffee reduces these risks.

These drinks also reduce the risk of diabetes. The chlorogenic acids present in them keep the energy supply in the cells correct and thus the blood sugar level remains in balance. It improves the body's process of digesting glucose, says Christina Chrysoho of the University of Athens in Greece.

These drinks are not a guarantee of longevity, but if accompanied by a balanced diet and less hunger, they can help in longevity and a healthy life. Like Okinawa and Sardinia, people in Acaria eat less meat and more fresh fruits and vegetables.

4: Unusual vegetables and fruits

Sweet potatoes and bitter gourds are a regular part of the Okinawan diet. Both these things are also a recipe for aging. Rice is the staple food in Japan, but sweet potatoes do the same for the people of Okinawa. One of the characteristics of sweet potato is that it slowly releases energy into the blood. In addition, it contains vitamins A, C and E, which are antioxidants that help detoxify the body and support the immune system. Potassium present in sweet potato also lowers blood pressure.

On the other hand, the people of Okinawa use bitter gourd in various dishes besides salads, tempura and juices. Like Greek coffee in Akaria, krill also has properties that help balance glucose levels in the body and aid digestion. Due to this, the risk of type 2 diabetes is greatly reduced.

5: Area specific structure

There has been little research on this yet, but it is likely that the composition and location of an area affects longevity.

For example, Sardinia in the Blue Zones is an area with mountains and beautiful valleys. Most of the people living there work on farms. Walking on mountain trails is a strenuous activity that keeps good health. Due to the natural structure and traditional lifestyle of this area, these people are like athletes.

6: The principle of moderation

It is clear that the secret of the longevity of people living in the blue zone is not hidden in a single factor, but it depends on many factors. Some of these things are common among different blue zones while some are limited to a specific area. But even so, we can learn a lot about longevity from the stories of those living in these areas.

Eating in moderation, consuming more fruits and vegetables in the diet, exercising regularly, drinking coffee and tea, and seeking spiritual satisfaction, whether it's from going to a place of worship or hiking mountain trails, are things we should do. Can be part of your daily life.