Blue Zones: what can we learn?

For those of you unfamiliar with Blue Zones - these are geographical areas on the planet where people live healthier lives for longer than other areas.

I'm not just referring to lifespan here, but also to 'healthspan' - the length of time that the average person lives in a healthy state. Longevity is a goal for many of us, but I would question the benefit of a long life, if a large part of it is spent being unhealthy or in pain.

There are 5 official Blue Zones in the world. They do not span vast tracts of land, but are linked to specific communities, as follows:

• Icaria - Greece
• Ogliastra - Italy (on Sardinia)
• Okinawa - Japan
• Nicoya Peninsula - Costa Rica
• Seventh Day Adventists community in Loma Linda, California

The subject of many studies, over time, these communities have some things in common that scientists believe contribute to their longer than average lifespan and 'healthspan'.

1. Diet - they eat minimal processed foods - often plant-based, whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables. The Seventh Day Adventists refer to their diet as the 'Garden of Eden' diet.
2. Social Connections - they all have strong social networks and community support, which contribute to their feeling of wellbeing
3. Physical Activity - they participate in regular, often daily, physical activity
4. Purpose and Belonging - they have a community purpose and a sense of belonging which contributes to their feeling of productivity and good mental health
5. Moderate Alcohol intake - all of the communities have a lower than average alcohol intake.
6. Stress Reduction - meditation, prayer or relaxation techniques are commonplace activities.

The commonalities are, perhaps, not surprising when you're looking at a community brought together by religion or similar ethics and principles. Shared values may well bring about a sense of community, purpose and belonging that give people those bonds - the ties normally associated with family and friendship - and we know that social connections, local support and networks in our own lives make a difference to our mental wellbeing and feeling of being valued.

Diet and physical activity, though, tend to be seen less as mechanisms for social bonding and more about the preferences or personal goals of individuals (though support in these efforts is gratefully received).

I think that most of us would accept the idea that these factors could contribute to both longevity and general health, and we're familiar with the term 'moderation in all things' as being a tenet to live by.

I do not claim to be an expert on diet or nutrition or mental health. I can see the value in social connection, networking and community support. I do, however, believe that physical activity - mobility rather than exercise per se - is something worth hanging onto for as long as possible.

Retaining the functional ability to move parts of your body and, indeed, all of your body adds to your independence, your healthspan and your quality of life as you age.

Mobility Matters.