Want to Live Past 100? Eat Like the People in the Blue Zones

If you want to ‘live long and prosper’ perhaps you need to adopt the lifestyle of people who live in the ‘Blue Zones’ of the world. The ‘Blue Zones’ include: the Italian island Sardinia; Okinawa, Japan; Loma Linda, California (USA); and Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula. These zones tend to have certain practices in common that may contribute their long, disease-free lifespan. So, if you want to ‘live’ like them, you have to adopt the following ways.

Maximum Vegetables: Include at least two vegetables to  each meal (fries don’t count). Eat meat only on special occasions. Enjoy green tea, coffee, and olive oil abundantly.

Nosh on Nuts: Eat them four to five times a week in serving sizes of about two ounces.

Lean on Beans, Tofu, and Fish for Protein: The majority of protein intake should come from beans, tofu, or fish. Beans and tofu are low in fat and high in fibre. White fish is low in fat, provides ample muscle-maintaining protein and protective omega-3 fatty acids.

Bursts of Physical Activity throughout the Day: Walk everywhere — to work, to the store, to visit friends, and so on. Sit on the floor, knead bread by hand, and watch little to no television.

Don’t Forget to Nap: Research has found that squeezing in a little 30-minute cat nap each day for five days a week can slash your risk of heart disease by a third.

Have Sex and Wine: Don’t put your sex life on halt, even if you have reached mid-age. Actually, you should be getting it on as often as twice a week (minimum) after age 50! On the other hand, red wine’s health benefits have been attributed to its high amount of protective antioxidants and polyphenols. Let’s raise a glass to that!