Dr. Sanjay Gupta speaks with Dan Buettner, a National Geographic Fellow and author, about his research on the five Blue Zones around the world where people live longer and healthier lives. They discuss the importance of a healthy diet, movement, rest, fulfilling work, and a positive attitude in promoting longevity. They also explore the benefits of a plant-based diet, intermittent fasting, quality sleep, and gratitude in leading healthier and longer lives.
Living in specific Blue Zone communities, such as Okinawa, Japan and Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica, can contribute to longer and healthier lives due to their lifestyle practices.
Creating environments that support healthy choices, such as walkable neighborhoods, access to healthy food, and social support, can improve health and longevity in communities.
Deep dives
The Five Blue Zones
The podcast discusses the five places identified as Blue Zones, where people live the longest and healthiest lives: Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica; Icaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, California. These areas have high rates of centenarians and low rates of age-related diseases. The residents follow specific lifestyle practices, such as a plant-based diet, physical activity, social connection, and a sense of purpose, which contribute to their longevity.
The Impact of the Environment
The podcast emphasizes the importance of the environment in promoting healthy aging. Living in a walkable neighborhood, having access to healthy food options, and social support all influence health behaviors. The example of the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica is given, where the environment supports a plant-based diet, physical activity, strong social connections, and access to basic healthcare. Creating similar environments in other communities can lead to improved health and longer lifespans.
The Role of Attitude and Mindset
The podcast highlights the positive attitude and mindset of centenarians as a contributing factor to their long, healthy lives. Gratitude, optimism, and a sense of purpose are common among these individuals. While changing one's attitude can be challenging, creating the right environment can make healthy choices easier and contribute to a positive mindset.
The Limitations of Anti-Aging Interventions
The podcast challenges the effectiveness of anti-aging interventions and suggests that focusing on lifestyle factors is more beneficial. Metformin and other interventions have shown some promise in research, but the long-term effects and overall impact on aging are still uncertain. The podcast emphasizes the importance of sustainable lifestyle choices, such as a plant-based diet, physical activity, and social connections, in promoting healthy aging.
All season, we’ve been exploring how we can all make the most of our age, at any age. But can where we live improve our longevity? In this episode, Dr. Sanjay Gupta speaks with National Geographic Fellow and author Dan Buettner. He tells us about the five communities around the world he identified where people live longer and healthier lives than the rest of us, dubbed “Blue Zones.” We’ll explore what they are doing right and how we can apply those findings to our daily lives. And to celebrate the final episode of this season, check out the Chasing Life: Better with Age Playlist assembled by the team.