Russ Dalbey's Blog

An interesting new book was published recently: The Blue Zone: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who’ve Lived the Longest by Dan Buettner.

Buettner, an American explorer, author, and record-holding endurance cyclist, has spent seven years researching communities that have high percentages of individuals who live past 100 years old. He calls these areas of unusually long life “blue zones.”

After studying the people of the Nicoya region of Costa Rica, where living over a century seems to be the rule, not the exception, Buettner has outlined some of the common characteristics of these amazing people in his latest book.

These habits and activities of blue zone residents can add 10 healthy years to your life, Buettner states.

Here are three of the key traits of “long lifers.” Note that none of these are directly about exercise or diet!

• Being nice. According to Buettner, “there wasn’t a grump in the bunch” of centenarians he met. “Being likeable,” he writes, “makes people happier to provide you company and care as you age.”
• “Hara hachi bu.” This is a Japanese expression for “stop before you’re stuffed.” It’s practiced by residents of a blue zone in Okinawa, Japan. Buettner writes that cutting calories by 20 percent can add six years to a lifespan.
• Picking healthy pals. Good habits and lifestyle choices are easy to make when you don’t see other options! “Your friends’ habits can be as influential as diets and exercise programs,” Buettner writes.

I hope that living long and well is among one of your top goals. If so, you could really benefit by heeding some sound advice from these amazing
blue-zone people!

For more information about the blue-zone people, check out this site: www.bluezones.com

Warmly,
Russ

Founder of Winning in the Cash Flow Business