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Summary of The Blue Zones 

4.6 . 2727 reviews

Short summary

Award-winning author and researcher Dan Buettner has traveled the globe to uncover the best strategies for longevity found in the Blue Zones — the areas in the world where higher percentages of people enjoy exceptionally long lives. The Blue Zones are areas where common things such as lifestyle, diet, and outlook have led to amazing quality as well as quantity of life. In this dynamic book, Buettner reveals how these people manage to live longer and better through the types of food they eat, the company they keep, and their perspectives on life. In this summary, you will learn how to make easy and lasting changes that may add years to your life.

Table of content

  • Summary of The Blue Zones
  • About the author
  • What is The Blue Zones about?
  • Who should read The Blue Zones
  • Topics in The Blue Zones
first key point

Longevity is not about genes; how you choose to live your life can lengthen or shorten it

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There are tons of different cultures and civilizations in the world today, each with their unique ways of life. In some cultures, the average life expectancy can be as high as 80 years, while in others, it can be as low as 45 years. However, there are certain regions in the world where people enjoy exceptionally long lives, living well into their 100s. These areas of the world are where Dan Buettner calls the Blue Zones.
The Blue Zones are regions in the world where people enjoy exceptionally long lives.
One of those Blue Zones is Sardinia, a small island off the coast of Italy. A 2011 study showed that, on average, 1 in 600 humans live to be 100 or older in Sardinia. This is in contrast to the US, where 1 in 4000 people are centenarians.

So, the question is: does longevity depend on our genetic makeup? Are the people in Sardinia and other Blue Zones just blessed with genes divinely geared towards longevity? Well, the answer is no.
The most important determinant of longevity is our lifestyle, not our genes.
According to a famous Danish study, which looked at over 2,500 twins, genes only account for 25% of all the factors that determine how long we live.

It turns out no one carries longevity in their DNA; what really matters is our behavior and how we choose to live our lives. In essence, you will always age every single day regardless of how great your genes are, and that process of aging can be slowed down or accelerated depending on the type of lifestyle you choose.

The Sardinians, for instance, live a very active and natural life. They spend most of their days outdoors, move and get around with their feet, and eat a natural Mediterranean diet.

If you can optimize your lifestyle, if you can adjust your own lifestyle to be in line with how people in the Blue Zones live, you may gain back an extra decade of the good life you’d otherwise miss.

In the rest of the summary, you will learn how to optimize your lifestyle by emulating the practices Dan Buettner found in each one of the Blue Zones.
second key point

Moving naturally throughout the day is a core part of the Blue Zone lifestyle

In our technology-driven world of today, the vast majority of us live a sedentary lifestyle. Technological advancement has gotten to the point where we can do basically anything just by the touch of a button. We can shop, work, and even socialize from the comfort of our homes. But this comfort we so much enjoy comes at a great price. Our health.
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third key point

Hara Hachi Bu: like the Okinawans, stop eating when you’re 80% full

fourth key point

Practicing the principles of “hara hachi bu” will only require you to make some simple changes to your eating habit

fifth key point

Adopting a plant-based diet will do your health a lot of good

sixth key point

Beans, whole grains, and garden vegetables are the main components of the diets in all the Blue Zones

seventh key point

Living a life devoid of purpose and family love can shave years off your life expectancy

eighth key point

Start developing your sense of purpose by articulating your personal mission statement

ninth key point

Having a sense of sublime serenity helps you live a longer, healthier life

tenth key point

Meditation is the key to maximizing your health and longevity in this stressful world

eleventh key point

Conclusion

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What is The Blue Zones about?

Who should read The Blue Zones

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Do you find yourself staring at your computer for long minutes, unaware of time slipping by? Do you enter a room and suddenly cannot remember why you stepped in the first place? Is it a herculean task for you to sit through ten pages of a book without reaching for your phone? If yes, your focus needs some work and fast.

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