Life Hacks of the Longest Living People

Have you ever thought about how awesome it would be to live forever? Ok, maybe not forever but for a really, really, really long time? And do you think living a long and healthy life well into your nineties or even one hundred years old is only for those lucky few who hit the genetic lottery? Think again! Both my paternal grandparents lived 100+ years and I know a lot of their good health came from their lifestyle factors (and that they lived in Barbados). Lifestyle factors, i.e. the things you do everyday over the long-term – can add up to increase the number of quality years in your lifespan.

And there’s a group of people who are living proof of how powerful everyday habits are when it comes to staying healthy for the long haul. The Blue Zones (or blue zone people) are regions around the world where people have very low rates of chronic disease and live longer compared to other populations. They are located in regions of Greece, Sardinia, Costa Rica, Japan, and California

Because these communities are home to the greatest number of people who live healthfully into their nineties and even hundreds, researchers have studied them to determine just how they age so healthfully.

Do you have to live in an actual Blue Zone to guarantee longevity? Nope! You can adopt some of the well-studied lifestyle traits of these folks to promote health and longevity right where you are! (or move if that works for you too!)

Here’s the top 5 life “hacks” of the world’s longest living people:

Hack #1: Eat a Plant-rich Diet

Blue Zone residents eat a mostly plant-based diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and whole grains. Animal foods aren’t avoided – they simply eat smaller portions of meat. You don’t have to become a strict vegetarian or vegan, but we can all become a little more vegetarian and eat a variety of plant foods daily. They contain fibre, vitamins, minerals, and powerful antioxidants that help decrease inflammation and protect you from chronic disease, like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

A simple rule of thumb is to fill half your plate with vegetables at every meal. Yup, every meal!

Hack #2: Include Healthy Fats

You already know this because we talk about fat ALL.THE.TIME.

Eat heart healthy unsaturated and omega-3 fats in the form of olive oil, nuts, seeds, and fish. Read more about the benefits of omega-3 fats here.

Getting enough omega-3’s helps decrease disease-causing inflammation and keeps your heart and brain healthy. Eating enough fat also keeps you feeling fuller longer, which can help prevent overeating that leads to weight gain – bonus!

Hack #3: Stop Eating Before You Feel 100% Full

Avoid the clean plate club. The post meal nap club. The I-ate-so-much-i’m-physically uncomfortable club. Eating slowly and chewing your food thoroughly gives your brain and stomach time to register that it’s had enough to eat. Blue Zone communities avoid overeating and eating beyond feelings of fullness….they never eat so much that they become uncomfortable or lethargic.

Hack #4: Drink Red Wine

Enjoying a glass of red wine a day increases your antioxidant intake, which is thought to decrease inflammation and help prevent heart disease. Of course, moderation is key. Four ounces of wine is considered a glass and drinking more than that is associated with negative health effects. Read more about red wine benefits here.

Hack #5: Shake Your Booty (or move your body)

Have you heard the phrase “sitting is the new smoking”? As in, it’s not good for your health to sit for extended periods of time. Lack of physical activity and prolonged sitting is linked to weight gain, obesity, and increased mortality. Be sure to look for opportunities to add movement into your regular routines.

Think:

  • Stretching while you watch tv
  • Take an after dinner evening walk
  • Park farther away from your destination
  • Choose stairs over elevators
  • Take standing and stretching breaks at work
  • Use a stand-up workstation, and fidget while you work (or dance!)

The world’s longest living people live active lives that include daily physical activities, like gardening, walking, and manual tasks.

RECIPE: Mediterranean Bean Salad

Ingredients

  • 2 15-oz cans of beans, drained and rinsed (use black beans, cannellini beans, kidney beans or chickpeas/garbanzo beans)
  • 1 english cucumber, chopped with skin on
  • 1 bell pepper, diced
  • 1 small red onion, diced
  • 1 cup cherry tomato, halved
  • 1 cup kalamata olives, roughly chopped
  • ¼ cup virgin olive oil (= longevity oil!)
  • ¼ cup red wine vinegar
  • 2 whole cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp dried oregano or 2 tsp fresh herb
  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Combine beans, cucumber, pepper, onion, tomatoes, and olives in a large bowl.

2. In a small bowl or sealed jar with a lid, whisk or shake together olive oil, vinegar, garlic, oregano, and salt and pepper.

3. Toss salad with dressing and enjoy at room temperature and refrigerate unused portions.

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