Places Where People Live Long - What They Have In Common

Dan Buettner, in his book, "The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who've Lived the Longest" reveals the factors in common among cultures that have very long life expectancies. In his lecture, televised on CNN, he delves into the cultures of the highlands of Sardinia (which has the longest male life-expectancy), Okinawa (which has the longest female life-expectancy) and Seventh-Day Adventists (who have the longest life-expectancy in the U.S.). There are 9 factors that he states are common to all these societies:

Move Naturally
1) In these societies, people don't perform programmed exercise. They just exercise as part of their daily lives. Okinawans get up off the floor 40+ times a day. Sardinians walk and garden a lot. Seventh Day Adventists take nature walks regularly. The common denominator seems to be a large volume of low-level physical activity.

Right Outlook
2) Downshift daily: That means to take some time daily to calm down, meditate, contemplate, or pray.
3) Purpose now: Have a purpose in living, either work, taking care of others, creating something beautiful, etc.

Eating Wisely
4) Wine in moderation (although the 7th Day Adventists discourage alcohol consumption)
5) Plant-based diet: Meat may be consumed but in relatively small quantities.
6) 80% Full Rule: Stop eating when you feel 80% full.

Connect
7) Loved ones come first
8) Belong to supportive groups
9) Right Tribe: Associate with other people who have good living habits

1-2 Alcoholic Drinks Per Day May Thwart Dementia

A study was described in the Tufts Health and Nutrition Letter of October 2009 relating alcohol consumption to dementia (deterioration of mental ability). The study, by Dr. Kaycee Sink of Wake Forest University found that of 3,069 test subjects, all of whom were over age 75, those who drank 1-2 alcoholic beverages per day were 37% less likely than non-drinkers to develop dementia within 5 years. However, of those subject who already showed some mental impairment, those drinking 3 or more alcoholic beverages per day were almost twice as likely as non-drinkers to develop dementia. Health authorities caution that non-drinkers should not start drinking to improve their health risk profile. However, 1-2 drinks per day also decreases risk of heart disease. The drawbacks of even this level of drinking are that alcohol tends to reduce a man’s testosterone level and any alcohol at all increases a woman’s risk of breast cancer.