Are You Living in the Blue Zones?

Blue Zones
Christine Henry

There’s no question we live in a technologically advanced world. We take advantage of groundbreaking medical discoveries to help reverse the daily tolls taken on our health, as well as electronic devices to make our lives more convenient. These advancements allow people to live longer, but are we really living? To get the most out of life, it is important to develop a lifestyle full of healthy habits and decisions. It’s never too late to start.

So why do some people live longer than others? The key to longevity is in how you live your life and treat your body, not how you treat diseases rendered from unhealthy lifestyles. Three programs tied to Shawnee Mission Medical Center (SMMC), the Blue Zones, CREATION Health and Speaking of Women’s Health (SWH), all tie together to shed light on the keys to a long, healthy and happy life.

Dan Buettner, explorer, educator and author of Blue Zones, teamed up with National Geographic and some of the world’s best longevity researchers to identify the areas of the world where people live measurably better and longer lives, and what they do differently than the rest of the world. In these pockets of the earth called Blue Zones, inhabitants reach the age of 100 at a rate 10 times greater than in the US.
Buettner, who presented at the 2008 SWH conference, said people living in the Blue Zones share a number of common lifestyle characteristics that contribute to their longevity. The importance of family is strong throughout all the Blue Zone cultures, and is put ahead of other concerns. These people also have a strong sense of purpose accompanied by support networks of close friends and family. A plant-based diet is evident in the Blue Zones as well as constant moderate physical activity. People often work and socialize outdoors. Inhabitants of the Zones don’t smoke, and drink alcohol only in moderation or not at all.

The people of Okinawa, Japan eat a low-fat diet of fish, fruit, vegetables and tofu. In the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica, the Mesoamerican diet of beans, squash and corn tortilla loaded with calcium propels people into their 90’s at rates four times greater than in the United States. The ancient herbal teas of Icaria, Greece as well as a short nap everyday are keys to lower blood pressure and 50 percent lower rates of heart disease.

In Loma Linda, California, Seventh-day Adventists are the United State’s longest-lived culture. They live on average a decade longer than the rest of Americans, due in part to their Bible-following diet of beans, legumes and plants, and their serious observance of the Sabbath. The people in this Blue Zone hot spot, like the others around the world, take care of themselves mentally, physically and spiritually. For more information on Blue Zones around the world, visit bluezones.com.

CREATION Health is a total wellness concept based on the Seventh-day Adventist lifestyle. It is used as the philosophy of wellness at SMMC. CREATION is an acronym for Choice, Rest, Environment, Activity, Trust, Interpersonal Relationships, Outlook and Nutrition. By following these eight universal principles of health, you can live a longer, happier and healthier life. Many inhabitants of other Blue Zones incorporate the same fundament aspects of CREATION Health in their daily lives as well. For more information on CREATION Health, visit creationhealth.tv.

“Be Strong, Be Healthy, Be in Charge” is the underlying message of SMMC’s annual SWH conference. Be in charge by making smart choices in how you live each day. Surround yourself with positive people, family and friends to enjoy your life and to give you the strength to face challenges and hardships. A woman’s life in 2010 is filled with meetings, kids’ activities and smartphones keeping us constantly preoccupied. Thus, it can be difficult to get the balance we need when it comes to being mentally, physically and spiritually fit. The 2010 SWH conference will be held October 1-2 at the Overland Park Convention Center. Tickets sell out early. Visit ShawneeMission.org/swh for more information.

If you want to start down the road of wellness prior to the fall SWH conference, SMMC’s Life Dynamics Health & Wellness Center offers a variety of classes including Tai Chi and Yoga to reduce stress while being active. The Center also offers Massage Therapy for therapeutic uses as well as relaxation. Click here for more information on classes offered at Life Dynamics.

By utilizing SWH, Life Dynamics Health and Wellness classes and the CREATION Health philosophy of living, you can create your own Blue Zone within your home and family to live a longer, healthier and happier life.