The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos Eat Like the People Who Live Happily to 100 (with Dan Buettner)
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Sep 15, 2025 
Dan Buettner, a New York Times bestselling writer and National Geographic explorer, shares captivating insights into the secrets of longevity from the Blue Zones. He discusses how diet and community shape long, happy lives. Discover how typical American eating habits compare unfavorably to those in these remarkable regions. Buettner also introduces his cookbook, One Pot Meals, which offers simple, nutritious recipes for health. Most importantly, he emphasizes the joy of cooking together and the vital role of social connections in fostering well-being.
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What Defines A Blue Zone
- Blue Zones are demographically confirmed areas where people live the longest and healthiest lives.
- Studying common denominators in those zones can explain much of population longevity.
Dietary Pattern Of Longevity
- Blue Zone diets are 90–95% plant-based, centered on whole grains, greens, tubers, nuts, and especially beans.
- Eating a cup of beans per day predicts about four extra years of life expectancy.
Activity By Design
- Blue Zone residents don't 'exercise' but live in environments that make walking and manual work natural.
- Their unconscious daily movement yields roughly 9,000–11,000 steps versus ~4,000 for average Americans.
