There are a number of rules that those living in the 'blue zones' that help them to live longer than most people in the world.
You may be curious as to what blue zones actually are, as one Italian family went viral back in 2012 after winning a Guinness World Record.
The Melis family of Perdasdefogu, Sardinia, held the record for the oldest combined age, which stood at 818 years.
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These nine siblings were known as the world's longest-lived family, as they went on to feature in a Netflix documentary titled Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones in 2023.
But there are some tips and secrets that you can follow to give yourself the best bet of turning out, like the Melis and many others that have lived long lives.
What is a blue zone?
There are said to be five blue zones across the world, which are; Loma Linda in California, Nicoya in Costa Rica, Okinawa in Japan as well as the islands of Sardinia and Icaria in Italy and Greece.
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Dan Buettner made the term 'blue zone' famous in 2005, as he found that certain areas on Earth had people living longer, healthier lives - for some reason.
It's all down to diet and lifestyle at the end of the day, as Buettner highlighted previously that it was because they 'lived in environments that nudged them into daily movement, encouraged social connectedness and plant-based eating'.
This was what led them to living longer, not a forced trend that was pushed on these respective families.
The Melis' family staple in their diet is a three-bean minestrone soup, which actually isn't that hard to make, but because of the nutrients, fibre and protein in the mix as well as a number of vegetables added into the mix, their bodies feel all the positive effects.
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11 'Blue Zone' diet rules to live by
But what if you wanted to upheave your diet and live as long as some of those are in the blue zone?
Well, there are 11 things you can switch up in what you eat to give yourself the best chance at a long life.
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They are:
- Eat predominantly plants
- Have meat sparingly
- Include three small servings of fish in your weekly diet
- Avoid dairy, but some yoghurt and cheese on occasion is fine
- Have a maximum of three eggs per week.
- Eat at least half a cup of cooked beans everyday
- Have sugary treats when celebrating
- Snack on nuts
- Avoid supermarket bread and aim to have whole grain, rye or sourdough
- Have whole foods over processed ones
- Stay hydrated with plenty of water, and enjoy red wine in moderation with a meal.
Alcohol is a part of these diets, not just for health benefits but to create a sense of community and to encourage a relaxed outlook on life, a mental health benefit.
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Buttner explained that 'knowing your sense of purpose' can also help people to live longer.
Environment is also key, as Giacomo Mameli - a distant cousin of the Melis siblings - told The Guardian in 2021: "We live in a place where the air is clean. Our centenarians were in continuous movement in a healthy environment.
"Another important factor is that Perdasdefogu conserves the sense of community... if you talk, you live well."
Topics: Health, Lifestyle, Food And Drink, Community, World News
Joshua Nair