Episode #25 Living Longer, Healthier, and with Purpose with Dan Buettner

What are the keys to living a long, healthful life? Insights from regions where people thrive well into their 100’s demonstrates that diet, physical, social, and even spiritual factors contribute to longevity.  

In this episode, Dr. Andrew Weil and Dr. Victoria Maizes sit down with award-winning journalist, best-selling author, and National Geographic explorer, Dan Buettner to discuss the habits that contribute to a live a long, healthy, meaningful life.

In 2000, Dan, National Geographic, and the NIH Institute on Aging identified the regions in the world where people lived the longest, healthiest lives. Those areas - dubbed Blue Zones - are Icaria, Greece; Loma Linda, California; Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica; Okinawa, Japan; and Sardinia, Italy. In each of these places, residents often lived well into their 90’s, with many living to be 100 years old or more. Dan’s articles, which closely examined the lifestyle trends of these centenarian populations, were published in The New York Times Magazine and National Geographic magazine.

Seeking to bring these life-enhancing habits to other populations, Buettner created partnerships with municipal governments, large employers, and health insurance companies to implement Blue Zones Projects in communities, workplaces, and universities. Blue Zones Projects are well-being initiatives that focus on changes to the local environment, public policy, and social networks. These communities have seen sharp decreases in preventable diseases and saved millions in healthcare costs.

In this conversation, Dr. Weil, Dr. Maizes, and Buettner explore blue zones lifestyles and discuss ways to integrate their habits into your life.