There’s a place in the world where people say that growing old is fun - and they live to incredible ages. Instead of obsessing over wellness and focusing on staying healthy people in this country follow a more traditional way of life, with community at the heart of daily activities.
On this island people do not worry too much about their health - they just enjoying living, often fairly humbly. Food choices play a big part in the remarkable old age inhabitants reach in this place - and more people, specifically women, reach the age of 100 here than in any other community across the globe.
Okinawa, an island off of Japan in the East China Sea, has tight-knit communities with inhabitants living much longer than the worldwide average. Mainland Japan is currently experiencing higher rates of many diseases, as well as a loneliness epidemic, but in Okinawa the population is defying expectations and living longer than ever.
So what's the secret in this remote and stunning island - some say social groups formed in childhood and carried forward into old age. These community meet ups are known as ‘moai’ and are a regular part of life on the island. Centenarians in Okinawa have also credited ‘ikigai' which is a sense of purpose in life - and hailed this as a factor for healthy old age.
Ikigai is achieved by the simple things in life - no heavy exercise or food obsessions here - instead, the community grows their own indigenous vegetables. Traditional food such as sweet potato, bitter melon and squash - all with significant health benefits.
Inhabitants also have a mantra “hara hachi bu” when it comes to mealtimes. They only eat until they are 80% full and it’s thought this may also contribute to the remarkably healthy long lives in Okinawa.
The locals generally have a laid-back approach to life and time, they prioritise listening to the older generation’s stories - there’s no rush rush attitude here. However, exercise is very important with residents incorporating gardening, walking and other regular movement into their daily routine. But exercise is more a way of life here, people are generally not sedentary - they move a lot throughout the day, getting up and down and walking to and fro to places they need to get to.
The traditional Okinawa diet is low in calories and high in carbs, protein and fat make up a small percentage of residents' diets. Soy products are regularly consumed, along with a generous variety of vegetables. Small amounts of pork and fish are popular as well as noodles and rice.
Okinawan culture treats food as medicine - following practices from traditional Chinese medicine. Herbs and spices such as turmeric and mugwort are added to everyday cuisines.
But Okinawa is not alone in being a renowned Blue Zone, the island is one of five such places in the world, featured in the ‘Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones’ Netflix series hosted by National Geographic Fellow Dan Buettner.
Dan found surprising secrets in four other places too - where inhabitants live to a fine old age and generally remain healthy.
In the series, Dan said: “I have found that most of what people think leads to a long, healthy life is misguided or just plain wrong, the fact of the matter is that most of us are leaving good years on the table.”
Sardinia in Italy has nearly 10 times more centenarians per capita than in the US, with a discovered M26 being a huge factor in healthy old age here. However, valuing older generations, taking gentle exercise, breathing clean air and eating seasonal fruit and veg - along with whole grains - were also believed to be important factors.
What’s more, a grape variety ‘cannonau’ that grows in Sardinia has been found to contain more artery-friendly flavonoids than other wines. Most citizens drink this wine in moderation with lunch and dinner daily.
Nicoya, Costa Rica is next on the Blue Zone list - here beans, corn, nutritionally-packed tropical fruit and calcium-rich water are thought to play a part. But spiritual attitudes, regular exercise, having a sense of purpose and optimistic outlook to life along with strong family values are all believed to contribute to longevity here.
The island of Ikaria in Greece is also a Blue Zone place, a traditional Mediterranean diet of olive oil, red wine, homegrown vegetables, local honey and goat’s milk is followed in this relaxing area. A third of the population make it to their 90s and hardly any of the older generation have dementia.
California spot, Loma Linda is a corner of the USA where you’ll find more of the healthiest Blue Zone residents. Here, a population of around 9,000 Seventh-day Adventists are living the average of a decade longer than other US citizens. Ongoing social circles are thought to be key, while allowing down time in day-to-day life. Regular exercise and plenty of consumption of vegetables and whole grains has also been noted here - which seems to be a common factor running throughout the Blue Zones, along with the importance of socialising with people you value.