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Early in life, there are numerous milestones as you climb the chronological calendar. When you turn 16, you are eligible to get a driver’s license. At 18, you can register to vote. And when celebrating that long-awaited threshold of 21, you are (finally) legally able to drink a beer.
However, beyond that, it just seems like the years pass silently until all of a sudden, you are approaching the BIG 5-0. And no, I’m not talking about the crime drama filmed in Hawaii (the original or the reboot). I’m talking the half-a-century mark.
Did I mention that I also received my AARP welcome packet? (Side note: How can I receive a welcome packet, when I haven’t even joined?!)
With all of that said, I lead a very healthy lifestyle. I exercise regularly, try to eat healthy and, perhaps most importantly, try to get a good night’s sleep.
But, not wanting to accept the status quo, I’m always looking to push the envelope and seek out new ways to make this transition a smoother ride while doing things that will increase my quality and years of life.
I’m not looking for some fad diet or gimmick, but rather a lifestyle plan that meshes with my existing game plan. Therefore, I decided to dive into thisBlue Zone Lifestylethat I have been reading about for years but had so far resisted the urge to comply with. Here’s what learned from trying it for just three weeks.
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First, WhatIsthe Blue Zone Diet?
Building upon research that identified the island of Sardinia as one global location in which there was the greatest concentration of male centenarians (or those over 100 years old), Dan Buettner expanded upon this work. Buettner further discovered that there are five regions in the world where people not only live the longest, but are also the healthiest. He dubbed these locations “blue zones.” The five include Loma Linda, California; Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; and Ikaria, Greece.
It’s long been touted that the Mediterranean diet is uniquely healthy, and two of the identified blue zones are located in that Mediterranean region.
His research also identified that within each of these zones, there were nine specific lifestyle habits that were synonymous with this concentrated longevity. We’ll get to those shortly.
Blue Zone Diet Rules and Principles
Statistically speaking, the Blue Zone Diet includes:
While avoiding or limiting:
Aside from just diet, the 9 Blue Zone Lifestyle Habits include:
The Changes I Made
Over the years, I have lost my affinity for beef. And while I do occasionally consume beef, it’s not the norm. I tend to eat more chicken and fish, so reducing my dependency on meat was going to be relatively easy. Or so I thought, as meat provided the bulk of my protein consumption daily.
Fruits and vegetables? I was already eating what I thought was an ample amount of vegetables, but would need to implement additional fruits to reach the required daily intake.
As for nuts, that was already my go-to snack choice. At least I was doing one thing right.
And, beans. While I enjoy steamed and sautéed green beans, I wasn’t consuming nearly enough other kinds beans (which could also help me bump up my plant protein).
Prior to starting this journey, my daily meals followed more of a reduced-carbohydrate-based diet. My breakfast would include a couple of eggs and bacon (another thing I needed to eliminate). Lunch typically consisted of a small piece of chicken and broccoli, with dinner being similar but usually smaller in portion. Snacks throughout the day would entail a handful of nuts or a spoonful of peanut butter. Can you see the relative absence of fruits in that itinerary?
How I Ate on the Blue Zone Diet
Breakfast:
Lunch:
This remained relatively the same, while trying to limit the portion of the meat I consumed. I also added a small salad.
Dinner:
This meal was nearly the same as lunch.
Snacks Between Meals:
I tried to be more proactive and include oranges and apples along with the nuts I was already consuming.
Hydration:
What I Discovered
Unlike the idiom, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” the truth is quite different.
Old habits are hard to break, as routines are easy and comfortable. Breaking out of our comfort zones allows us to discover new things about ourselves.
After I broke an ankle last fall in a climbing accident, my activity level was tempered for almost three months. During this physical hiatus, I put on a few extra pounds due to my lack of activity, though my diet didn’t change drastically.
With three weeks, it’s hard to ascertain the long-term benefits of this blue zone diet. However, it’s hard to argue with the demographic research that supports the longevity of people living in these unique zones around the globe.
Here are some of the highlights from the last three weeks:
Note: I’m still working on how to include beans and legumes while further reducing my meat consumption. While I don’t foresee myself becoming a vegetarian in this life, it’s not outside the realm of likelihood to limit meat to just a few times a week.
As for the other habits, I’m well on my way to incorporating or increasing my devotion to those as well.
The Bottom Line
While it’s way too early to know whether I’m on the path to being a centenarian, at least this lifestyle (and diet) is one that I can easily incorporate into my daily life. And, most importantly, I already feel better.
While I know that I will still enjoy the occasional treat (pizza, dessert and a margarita), this is a plan that I can easily follow and sustain for the long haul.
Perhaps, I’ll share my long-term results in an updated story six months or a year from now.
Until then, here’s to the next 50 years.
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