 OKINAWA FINDINGS
The first Blue Zones Quest traveled to Okinawa, Japan in October
2005. Okinawans live, on average, seven years longer than Americans.
The team found that it's not just genes; it's about lifestyle– what you
eat, how you live, and your sense of community and purpose. For fifteen
days, the online audience directed the team as they gathered evidence
and lifestyle characteristics that seemed to explain the islanders'
extraordinary longevity. From a list of eighteen characteristics, the
audiences ranked what they feel are the seven most important factors.
We call it the Seven Tips to Add Seven Years:
- Spend time with your parents and grandparents: Keep the generations connected. Everyone fares better.
- Explore faith and spirituality: Make time for meditation, prayer or other spiritual practices on a regular basis.
- Eat a rainbow of colors: Eat at least five different-colored vegetables daily: red tomatoes, spinach, and eggplant are a few examples.
- Find a sense of purpose:
Discover your "ikigai" [pronounced: ee-key-guy]: volunteer, pursue a
hobby, spend time with your children or explore a new career.
- Exercise daily: Take brisk walks, skip escalators and avoid moving sidewalks to optimize balance, strength and flexibility.
- Live together as a couple: Live longer and better together with the person you love.
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