Blue Zones, The: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest (The Blue Zones) Mass Market Paperback – Illustrated, October 19, 2010

This review is based on the audible audiobook.I was not expecting much from this book at all, and I was pleasantly surprised. For one, I had just finished "The China Study" and "The Jungle Effect: Healthiest Diets from Around the World," by Daphne Miller, both of which were excellent. For another, the book was published by National Geographic, and for some reason I figured it this was more mainstream and would be a watered-down, feel good book for Americans. However, I was totally wrong and this book was honest, hard-hitting, and also excellent.In fact, "Blue Zones", "The China Study" and "Jungle Effect" are extremely complimentary to each other. Part of the reason for this is that "The China Study" just focuses on a few areas geographically (granted, they are big areas), while "The Jungle Effect" and Blue Zones add other areas to the mix, with some overlap and some new geographical areas between the latter two books.One small issue with "Blue Zones" is that it focuses on centenarians. While it does touch on this some, an important thing to understand is that even if people aren't living to be 100-plus, the people in these areas have incredibly less degenerative disease than typical Americans do. What that means is that while they aren't disease free, the people in these "blue zones" have less cancer, heart disease, diabetes, inflammatory-related disease, etc.In fact, these areas of health are often isolated areas in regions where the same ethnic populations have higher disease rates similar to western countries. For example, in both "The Jungle Effect" and "Blue Zones," the authors often reached modern destinations populated with fast-food restaurants and all the things that go along with more affluent living, including western diseases. To get to the really healthy people, they had to travel outside these areas. But what this shows is that clearly it isn't just a matter of genes. Within the same ethnic groups, those that ate like westerners, had diseases of affluence, while those that ate the "old" ways, were living healthily into their eighties, nineties and on.The neat thing is that among these people, from China to Costa Rica, a very clear pattern emerges. While almost every single group ate meat, they usually did so only on special occasions and holidays, and as more of a side dish than the main course. For example, the first centenarian interviewed in "Blue Zones" only ate meat on Sundays.In fact, between three books, the diets were almost identical, give or take a small difference here or there, and only one group examined in any detail was vegetarian, which was the Seventh Day Adventist in America.Among the groups that did eat a lot of animal products, as some in "The Jungle Effect" did, it was because they lived in geographically harsh conditions where it was impractical to grow vegetables and eat them directly. People in these areas were forced to get their nutrition second-hand through the animals they ate. The key point to understand is that these animals were not eaten in the way typical Americans eat them. The meat or fish was usually wild, and they ate the whole animals, organs and all.It is funny how this information can be viewed, and clearly there is a pattern to be viewed, and researchers overlay information onto the subject which was not actually present in the data. For example, Dr. Weston Price viewed this same evidence first hand, and yet somehow, his foundation focuses only on the groups which ate a lot of animals, regardless of the fact that Americans did not eat meat in the same way these groups did, nor was the meat of the same quality, nor did Americans put the same amount of effort into preparing the meat.In The China Study, T. Colin Campbell viewed the same information that Dr. Weston Price viewed, and advocated veganism, regardless of the fact that the vast majority of the people he studied ate animal products during special events, celebrations, and holidays. To Dr. Campbell, all disease was related to diet, as well,despite the fact that there is a clear evidence that there are other causes for disease. Lack of exercise, sunshine, etc., for example, can all cause disease.So it appears there is some danger in getting all your information from one source, but between these three books, a sort of balance starts to emerge and a picture is painted...one that clearly shows that health is a package deal, and here are the items in the package:1) Move naturally. 2) Have a purpose. 3) Have a stress shedding strategy. 4) Stop eating when your stomach is 80% full. 5) Eat a plant-based diet. 6) Drink 1-2 drinks per day (preferably Sardinian Cannonau wine). 7) Belong to a faith-community. 8) Put loved ones first and 9) Hang with a tribe that has healthy attributes.Also, one of the important things that "Blue Zones" adds to the debate is that in Costa Rica, government records were examined to verify the ages of the centenarians. This is important because no matter the amount of effort and documentation that went into "The China Study", some simply dismiss the entire book as lies by the Chinese people. With this verification in "Blue Zones" the opportunity to simply dismiss it in this manner goes right out the window.You know, despite all the information we have, people still smoke and do drugs, so just having this information available does not mean that everyone would follow it. But these three books should be read by everyone, so that at least when they get cancer or heart disease, they understand why they got sick and not try to blame God.

My Rating – Must ReadLevel – Easy read, medium length, but reads quicklySummaryBlue zones, so named because while researching the first one, a blue circle was drawn around they area under discussion, are areas in the world where people live the longest. Not only do they live longer, but live better as centenarians (100 year olds) then many people much younger do in other parts of the world.The book takes us through the four blue zones, and shares interviews, history, diets and other fact about the life of the people who live there. The four blue zones are – Sardinia, Okinawa, Loma Linda (California) and Costa Rica. They have since discovered another one in Greece.The final chapter gives the tips they found in common in all the blue zones so that you can create your own ‘blue zone.’• Move Naturally – Everyone studied for the book was extremely active. They walked miles a day, gardened, etc. His point is no one has to run marathons or become powerlifter, you just need to move often.• Hara Hachi Bu – A phrase said by the Okinawans before every meal reminding them to eat until they feel 80% full. Calorie restriction has been shown to be very important in longevity.• Plant Slant – With the exception of the Adventist in Loma Linda, no one was a vegetarian. However, they all ate meet rarely, anything from once a week to only a few times a year.• Grapes of Life – Wine. It plays a big role for the Sardinians and the Okinawans drink Sake, but the others consumed no alcohol. Either way, studies have shown a drink or two a day, especially of wine is beneficial to your health.• Purpose Now – Having a sense of purpose, or a reason to get up in the morning, something that drives you.• Down Shift – taking time to relax, meditate or slow down and enjoy life.• Belong –To a community, but a part of something bigger than yourself. Religious communities, regardless of which one, have been shown to help people live longer.• Loved Ones First – Relatedly, take time to cultivate relationships and spend time with friends and family. Prioritizing social life is something we really fail at in America.• Right Tribe – People who share common goals and healthy lifestyle. Many studies have shown that who you hang out with has a huge impact on your lifestyle. Have an obese friend increases your chances of becoming overweight. Seek people who have the same above traits in mind.My ThoughtsThings like this are utterly fascinating to me. Both of my granddads are currently 91 years old and show only a few signs of stopping. Much of their life has included most of the traits. Modern America has us moving further and further away from these things. We eat lots of cheap, processed food. We don’t spend much time with friends or family. We do not rest often. We don’t move. I’m currently writing this at my desk, I spend far too many hours a day sitting at a desk and wondering how I can move.Adopting as much of the Blue Zone lifestyle will not only help you to live longer, but the time you do spend will be better and healthier.(...)