Blue Zone Foods that Improve Longevity

Written By Wendell Holder

Legumes
Dark Leafy Greens
Blueberries
Olives/Olive oil
Turmeric
Ginger
Garlic

What is a Blue Zone? A blue zone is any region in the world where people are claimed to have exceptionally long lives beyond the age of 100 due to a lifestyle combining physical activity, low stress, rich social interactions, a local whole foods diet, and low disease incidence.

People who live in Blue Zones around the world reach age 100 an average of 10 times more frequently than people in most of the U.S. — where the average life expectancy is 77.5. Not only do people in these zones live considerably longer lives, they’re also healthier, less likely to suffer from chronic illnesses. But whether we study the people of Okinawa, Japan or Icaria, Greece, there are some commonalities among the diets of these cultures:

  • Anti-inflammatory foods

  • Abundant herbs and spices

  • Locally sourced fruits and vegetables

  • Smaller, low-mercury fish

  • Very little refined sugar

Wendell Holder
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