View of the Program in Newsweek Magazine

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

View of the Program in Newsweek Magazine Dan Buettner Blue Zones Founder; National Geographic Fellow & Explorer Dan Buettner is a National Geographic Fellow and multiple New York Times bestselling author. He has discovered, through multiple expeditions with teams of research scientists specializing in population studies, the five places in the world which have been dubbed “Blue Zones”. In these Blue Zones, Buettner has found that the inhabitants live the longest, happiest, and healthiest lives in the world. His New York Times Sunday Magazine article about these places, “The Island Where People Forget to Die,” was one of the Times’ most popular articles, as well as his National Geographic cover story on longevity titled “The Secrets of Living Longer”. A chord was struck after these publications, and thus subsequent books were written and a company which seeks to share the distilled wisdom of Blue Zones cultures with American cities was born. Blue Zones, LLC, puts the world’s best practices of longevity and wellbeing to work in people’s lives at the community level. Buettner works in partnership with Healthways, municipal governments, and various insurance companies to implement the program in more than 20 cities, and has dramatically improved the health of more than five million Americans to date. Their strategy focuses on optimizing the local environment – including the walkability for citizens and kids, availability of healthy food options, social connectivity, pursuit of life purpose, and ongoing coaching and support for creating homes which effortlessly bring forth wellness and happiness. In one project alone, Buettner and his former partner AARP applied principles of Blue Zones to Albert Lea, Minnesota, and lowered health care costs by 40%. Harvard University’s Walter Willet called the results “stunning” in his review of the program in Newsweek magazine. His books The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who’ve Lived the Longest and Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way have remained bestsellers, along with his new book THE BLUE ZONES SOLUTION: Eating and Living Like the World’s Healthiest People. These books have been featured on The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, Good Morning America, Dr. Oz, NPR, and Oprah. Buettner also holds three Guinness Book of World Records in distance cycling (and is possibly the only person to have cycled through the Sahara desert without sunscreen!) and has won an Emmy Award for television production. He resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota and is particularly proud to be the father of three (nearly) grown children. Visit him at www.BlueZones.com, and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @bluezones. Leading Authorities, Inc. | 1-800-SPEAKER | www.leadingauthorities.com.
Recommended publications
  • The Times of London How to Live a Long Life
    How to live a long life: A new movement promoting the benefits of growing old takes the world's 'longevity hotspots' as its inspiration. Francis Gilbert explores the secrets of the not-so-ancients Are we living in the age of the "oldie"? This week the veteran BBC broadcaster John Simpson -- who six years ago became a father again at the age of 61 -- hailed 65 as the new 55, declaring that being 65 now "is what being 55 seemed like back in 1967. If your health holds up, you ought to be able to keep active and involved until your eighties". He certainly doesn't need to look far for confirmation. At 76, film-maker and comedian Woody Allen is enjoying his biggest commercial success, 74-year-old Ridley Scott has just directed one of the summer's most expensive blockbusters, Prometheus, and 79-year-old Yoko Ono is enjoying more critical acclaim for her art than ever, with a new show at the Serpentine Gallery. Even in the sporting arena, old people are still competing: this month Arthur Gilbert (no relation) became the oldest athlete to complete a triathlon, at the age of 91. In other spheres it's clear that older people like Warren Buffett and the Queen continue to play pivotal roles in the worlds of business and politics. This said, older people get a largely negative press -- scarcely a day goes by without some dreary headline about our "ageing population". When I've canvassed people about whether they want to live to 100, many of them have reacted with horror, saying they couldn't think of anything worse.
    [Show full text]
  • Make the Healthy Choice the Easy Choice
    MAKE THE HEALTHY CHOICE THE EASY CHOICE LEAD. IGNITE. TRANSFORM. TRANSFORMATION THE IS POSSIBLE What do Ikaria, Greece; Loma Linda, California; Sardinia, CHALLENGES Italy; Okinawa, Japan; and Nicoya, Costa Rica have in common? Their citizens lead vibrant, healthy, and amazingly long lives. These places are known as “blue ARE REAL zones”, where people live measurably longer, with lower incidences of chronic disease and a higher quality of life. More than 86%1 of the nearly $3 trillion2 annual U.S. healthcare costs are spent on chronic disease. These diseases can largely be prevented HELP PUT YOUR COMMUNITY BACK IN and improved through lifestyle changes. CONTROL OF HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. Blue Zones Project® provides a holistic and 69% of the American population can be comprehensive solution that addresses the key classified as overweight or obese.2 drivers of behaviors in all the places we live, work, Our children’s life expectancy is projected learn, and play. We put entire communities in better to be shorter than that of their parents— control of their health and well-being, and deliver for the first time in history. measurable change in population health. The truth is our environment increasingly encourages unhealthy choices. We are surrounded by modern conveniences that make us more sedentary. And we are bombarded daily with unhealthy messages for unhealthy products. MAKE YOUR COMMUNITY A BLUE ZONE The good news Scientists identified five blue zones areas around the 80% of a person’s lifespan is determined world, and National Geographic explorer Dan Buettner by lifestyle choices and environmental documented these findings in his New York Times factors.
    [Show full text]
  • The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who've Lived
    THE BLUE ZONES: LESSONS FOR LIVING LONGER FROM THE PEOPLE WHO’VE LIVED THE LONGEST By Dan Buettner Study Guide by Ken Bingham Preface 1. According to Dan Buettner, “Scientific studies suggest that only about 25 percent of how long we live is dictated by genes... The other 75 percent is determined by our lifestyles and the everyday choices we make. It follows that if we optimize our lifestyles, we can maximize our life expectancies within our biological limits” (xxii). In effect, maximizing our life expectancies is the goal of “Blue Zones,” and, since you’re reading this guide, it’s one of your goals as well. So, before we begin on this journey together, let’s first take some time to look through where you stand here at the outset. Start a Health Journal, and take some notes on your current lifestyle: • How much do you sleep? Do you ever need to take medications to help you sleep? • What are your eating habits? Traditionally, what do you consume for breakfast, lunch, dinner? Do you eat three meals a day, four? When are your biggest meals? What do you eat for snacks? How often do you snack? • What are your drinking habits? How much alcohol do you consume a day, a week? How much red wine, beer, mixed drinks? How much water per day? How much coffee, tea? • In how many days of the past twenty have you experienced anxiety? What are the current stressors in your life? How much time to do you spend per day concerned about these, concerned about the past, the future? • How do you spend your social time? Read, watch television, go to the gym? How often during a usual week do engage in group social activities? • How much do you exercise? What kind of exercises do you get involved in? 2.
    [Show full text]
  • Community Based Efforts That Promote Healthier Diets for Low- Income Minnesotans
    St. Catherine University SOPHIA Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers School of Social Work 5-2012 Community Based Efforts that Promote Healthier Diets for Low- Income Minnesotans Stephanie Larson St. Catherine University Follow this and additional works at: https://sophia.stkate.edu/msw_papers Part of the Social Work Commons Recommended Citation Larson, Stephanie. (2012). Community Based Efforts that Promote Healthier Diets for Low-Income Minnesotans. Retrieved from Sophia, the St. Catherine University repository website: https://sophia.stkate.edu/msw_papers/51 This Clinical research paper is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Social Work at SOPHIA. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers by an authorized administrator of SOPHIA. For more information, please contact [email protected]. i Community Based Efforts that Promote Healthier Diets for Low-Income Minnesotans GRSW Clinical Research Paper Submitted by Stephanie K. Larson May 2012 The Clinical Research Project is a graduation requirement for MSW students at St. Catherine University/University of St. Thomas School of Social Work in St. Paul, Minnesota and is conducted within a nine-month time frame to demonstrate facility with basic social research methods. Students must independently conceptualize a research problem, formulate a research design that is approved by a research committee and the university Institutional Review Board, implement the project, and publicity present their findings. This project is neither a Master’s thesis nor a dissertation. School of Social Work University of St. Thomas & Saint Catherine University St. Paul, Minnesota Committee Members: David Roseborough, PhD (Chair) Larry Hosch, MSW Tracy Hinz, MSW/LICSW ii COLLEGE OF ST.
    [Show full text]
  • A NEW BLUE ZONE If You Want to Live a Long and Happy Life, You May Want to Move to the Newest Blue Zone - Naples, FL
    APRIL 2016 A NEW BLUE ZONE If you want to live a long and happy life, you may want to move to the newest Blue Zone - Naples, FL. Here, the Southwest Florida Blue Zones Project (https://southwestflorida. bluezonesproject.com) is championing a community-wide wellbeing initiative to make healthy choices easier for everyone in the area. Several southwest Florida employers (and BKS clients!) are such strong advocates that they have become Blue Zone Approved Worksites. Congratulations to Wyndemere Country Club, Moorings Park and Wynn’s Markets for joining this elite group of health-conscious organizations. As for the rest of us, there is much to be learned from Dan Buettner’s research on longevity and authentic happiness. LONGEVITY In his first study, The Blue Zones, Buettner describes life in four dispersed areas of the globe: Sardinia, Italy, Okinawa, Japan, Loma Linda, California and the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica. What distinguishes these areas is that they all boast substantially large populations over the age of 100. The “blue zones,” so named because the term stuck during the mapping process, has absolutely nothing to do with hair color, though many do have full heads of blue hair. Buettner and his team studied each of these zones to learn what contributes to the longevity of their residents. What they found was that regardless of the geography or the culture, all of the centenarians had very similar lifestyles. Buettner postulates that adoption of some of their habits may contribute to as many as 10 more years of useful life expectancy. Sardinia, Italy Loma Linda, CA Okinawa, Japan Naples, FLNEW! Nicoya, Costa Rica NINE LONGEVITY LESSONS 1 Be active without having to think about 5 Take time to see the big picture.
    [Show full text]
  • A Nursing Study Abroad Experience in the Blue Zone
    Naber J, et al. J Comp Nurs Res Care 2019, 4: 146 https://doi.org/10.33790/jcnrc1100146 Journal of Comprehensive Nursing Research and Care A Nursing Study Abroad Experience in the Blue Zone of Sardinia, Italy: A Case Study of the Program and Development Jessica Naber*, Amy Hale School of Nursing and Health Professions, Murray State University, 102 Curris Center, Murray, KY 42071, USA Article Details Article Type: Review Article Received date: 26th August, 2019 Accepted date: 14th September, 2019 Published date: 16th September, 2019 *Corresponding Author: Jessica Naber, Associate Professor, School of Nursing and Health Professions, Murray State Uni- versity, 102 Curris Center, Murray, KY 42071, USA. E-mail: [email protected] Citation: Naber J, Hale A (2019) A Nursing Study Abroad Experience in the Blue Zone of Sardinia, Italy: A Case Study of the Program and Development. J Comp Nurs Res Care 4: 146. doi: https://doi.org/10.33790/jcnrc1100146. Copyright: ©2019, This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Abstract Education Abroad Program Development Each year, more than 300,000 American students have an In 2014, a nursing professor became interested in the concept of international experience to earn academic credit on a variety of the Blue Zones after reading about Buettner’s research online. The programs ranging from two weeks to a full academic year. Education concept was intriguing to someone involved in healthcare because Abroad (EA) enables students to “experience new perspectives, learn in the Blue Zone areas, people were living longer than in the United how to navigate different cultures, work with diverse peers, and States at an astounding rate, and more importantly, they were living communicate in other languages” [1].
    [Show full text]
  • Active Design: Creating a Blue Zones Model for Interior Environments
    Virginia Commonwealth University VCU Scholars Compass Theses and Dissertations Graduate School 2017 Active Design: Creating a Blue Zones model for interior environments Alexis Holcombe Virginia Commonwealth University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd Part of the Interior Architecture Commons © The Author Downloaded from https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/4867 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at VCU Scholars Compass. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of VCU Scholars Compass. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ACTIVE DESIGN creating a Blue Zones model for interior environments alexis c. holcombe ides 699 spring 2017 virginia commonwealth university integrity approach work honestly and openly intention define concept and plan clearly and articulately form give meaning and order to materials PROGRESSION love respect and care for people and the earth RESEARCH i am committed to making design that serves many and is universal, because that is AND PROGRAM CONCEPT THE BLUE ZONES economical, sustainable and ethical. 12 but I honor design that celebrates the individual, PROGRAM AND CODE ACTIVE DESIGN FOR 64 because that is WELL-BEING DESIGN personal, poetic and joyful. 14 GRAPHIC PROGRAM AND ADJACENCIES BACK THE WELL LIVING LAB 66 SCHEMATIC DESIGN design is power 20 AND SITE BUILDING 76 FRONT TAI CHI CHUAN CONCEPT DESIGN DEVELOPMENT WORKS CITED 22 DEVELOPMENT 78 104 designers have a responsibility to help people experience RICHMOND AND THE 68 and manage their time and place on earth. THESIS PREFACE TEAISM FAN DISTRICT DESIGN REALIZATION SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 06 24 42 WABI-SABI 84 108 THESIS ABSTRACT CASE STUDIES SITE STUDY AND MATERIALITY REFLECTION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS — Alexis Holcombe 08 28 46 72 102 111 THESIS PREFACE “It is a question of environment.” Although it was one thing to define areas of the world where people already were living long, healthy lives, Buettner’s chal- That was the assessment of Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Keys to Longevity: Blue Zones and Other Resources
    KEYS TO LONGEVITY: BLUE ZONES AND OTHER RESOURCES COMPENDIUM 2019 [2] Table of Contents Introduction / Blue Zones Power9® 3 ~ Move Naturally 4 ~ Know Your Purpose 5 ~ Down Shift 5 ~ 80% Rule 6 ~ Plant Slant 7 ~ Wine at 5 8 ~ Belong 8 ~ Loved Ones First 9 ~ Right Tribe 10 Centenarians 10 ~ Statistics 11 ~ Centenarian Studies 11 Other Longevity Resources 12 Videos 13 Provided by the UNCW Gerontology Program in the College of Health and Human Services [3] Introduction Source for this graphic and the short descriptions of the Power 9: https://www.bluezones.com/2016/11/power-9/ Website: https://www.bluezones.com/ Also see short video “Blue Zones Project Overview” (3:45 min.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEYVqM-8DHE Provided by the UNCW Gerontology Program in the College of Health and Human Services [4] Power 9: Move Naturally “The world’s longest-lived people don’t pump iron, run marathons or join gyms. Instead, they live in environments that constantly nudge them into moving without thinking about it. They grow gardens and don’t have mechanical conveniences for house and yard work.” American College of Sports Medicine, Chodzko-Zajko W.J. & Proctor D.N. (2009). American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Exercise and physical activity for older adults. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 41(7), 1510–30. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19516148 Aubrey, A. (2019, May 29). 10,000 steps a day? How many you really need to boost longevity. NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/05/29/727943418/do-you-really-need- 10-000-steps-per-day Refers to this original article: Lee, M.
    [Show full text]
  • Blue Zones: Lessons from the World’S Longest Lived
    AJLXXX10.1177/1559827616637066American Journal of Lifestyle MedicineAmerican Journal of Lifestyle Medicine 637066research-article2016 American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine Sep • Oct 2016 Dan Buettner, BA, and Sam Skemp, BA Blue Zones: Lessons From the World’s Longest Lived Abstract: What began as a National lives is dictated by our genes, whereas might explain longevity. They found Geographic expedition, lead by Dan the other 80% is dictated by our that the lifestyles of all Blue Zones Buettner, to uncover the secrets of lifestyle. In 2004, Dan Buettner, residents shared 9 specific longevity, evolved into the discovery of CEO of Blue Zones LLC, was characteristics. These are called the the 5 places around the world where determined to uncover the specific Power 9. people consistently live over 100 years old, dubbed the Blue Zones. Dan and his team of demographers, scientist However, many individuals have and anthropologists were able to distill the evidence-based common the capacity to make it well into denominators of these Blue Zones into 9 commonalities that they call the the early 90s and largely without Power 9. They have since taken these principles into communities across chronic disease. the United States working with policy makers, local businesses, schools and individuals to shape the environments aspects of lifestyle and environment Power 9 of the Blue Zones Project Communities. that led to longevity. By teaming up What has been found is that putting with National Geographic and the To make it to age 100, it seems that a the responsibility of curating a healthy National Institute on Aging, Dan and person must have to win the genetic environment on an individual does his team, found the 5 demographically lottery.
    [Show full text]
  • I Fall 2019 I
    BOOKS I FALL 2019 I I 38° 54' 19" N I 77° 02’ 13” W I * NationalGeographic.com/Books NatGeoBooks @NatGeoBooks * IF YOU’REYOU’RE WONDERING, WONDERING, THESE THESE ARE THE ARE COORDINATES THE COORDINATES OF OF HUBBARDHUBBARD HALL HALL AT AT NATIONAL NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC GEOGRAPHIC HEADQUARTERS HEADQUARTERS NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PARTNERS LLC, a joint venture between National Geographic Society National Geographic Books are distributed to the trade by Penguin Random House. and 21st Century Fox, combines National Geographic television channels with National Geographic’s media For ordering information, or to contact your local sales representative, please call or write: and consumer-oriented assets, including National Geographic magazines; National Geographic Studios; related digital and social media platforms; books; maps; children’s media; and ancillary activities that include UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS & LIBRARIES travel, global experiences and events, archival sales, catalog, licensing and e-commerce businesses. Penguin Random House Customer Service (except United Kingdom) Librarians and other educators can request 400 Hahn Road Penguin Random House, Inc. our latest catalog for School & Public Westminster, MD 21157 International Department Libraries by calling 1-877-873-6846. A portion of the proceeds from National Geographic Partners LLC will be used to fund science, exploration, 1745 Broadway Visit www.nationalgeographic.com/books conservation and education through significant ongoing contributions to the work of the To order by phone or for customer service: New York, NY 10019 National Geographic books are also 1-800-733-3000 1-212-829-6712 available through your regular wholesaler. National Geographic Society. Available daily Fax: 1-212-572-6045; 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM EST 1-212-829-6700 Catalog entries list the suggested cover (Eastern and Central Accounts) Email: [email protected] price.
    [Show full text]
  • The Blue Zones Regularly Exercise, Tend Their Gardens, Are Active Members of Their Communities, Eat Delicious Food and Even Have Sex!
    Are you Planning for Your 101st Birthday Party? Fred Broughton Presenter In most of the world, the prospect of living to age 100 sounds like a mixed blessing. While a long life is generally good, many people worry that it also equals diminished health and mental function. But that isn't so in the "blue zones." In four hot spots around the globe, people live to 100 in great numbers. But it's not only about longevity—they live with strength, vitality and happiness. Residents of the blue zones regularly exercise, tend their gardens, are active members of their communities, eat delicious food and even have sex! To find out what they're doing right—and we're doing wrong—Oprah and Dr. Oz look to Dan Buettner, a freelance writer for National Geographic who spent seven years researching his book The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who've Lived the Longest. • Our team of researchers visited five places around the world where people live the longest to distill their secrets of healthy longevity. People in the Blue Zones nurture strong social networks, consume a plant- based diet, eat in moderation and incorporate daily, natural physical activity into their lives. Here’s a profile of the journey into each longevity pocket further described in The Blue Zones Sardinia, Italy The mountainous island of Sardinia is home to some of the world’s longest-lived men. Here exists an ancient culture characterized by traditional social values, respect for elders and loyalty to the family clan. Indigenous Sardinians abide by unwritten laws and have survived attempts at foreign domination for centuries.
    [Show full text]
  • National Geographic • November 2004 SARDINIA at Vero Eos Et Accusam Et Justo Duo Dolores Et Ea Rebum
    WHO’S BEST AT LIVING LONGEST LongevityTHE SECRETS OF OKINAWA At vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores et ea rebum. Stet clita kasd gubergren, no sea takimata sanctus est Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. At vero 2 national geographic • november 2004 SARDINIA At vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores et ea rebum. Stet clita kasd gubergren, no sea takimata sanctus est Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. At vero LOMA LINDA At vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores et ea rebum. Stet clita kasd gubergren, no sea takimata sanctus est Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. At vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores et ea re- BY DAN BUETTNER SARDINIANS PHOTOGRAPHS BY DAVID McLAIN Honor Family Drink Red Wine Eat Whole Grains and Fava Beans hat if I said you could add And there’s another problem. Your body Tom Perls of Harvard estimates that if Let Women Run the House seven or eight years to your was designed to wear out. Once you reach re- you adopt an optimal diet, lifestyle, and Stay Active life? What would that be productive age, plus enough years to raise level of physical activity, you can add worth? First the Good News.
    [Show full text]