To Inspire:

Many of you are familiar with “blue zones,” places in the world where high percentages of men and women living there age gracefully with few health issues well into their 90s and 100s. As a Christian, while I look forward to the life to come, I also desire to live well now for as long as God keeps me here!

One of the most remarkable blue zones is Ikaria, Greece, an area that has a remarkably high number of healthy centenarians. Below is an excerpt from Food Revolution Network that shares the characteristics and lifestyle choices that contribute to their healthy longevity.

One in three Ikarians make it to their 90s. Their rates of chronic disease are low, and dementia is almost unheard of. So how do they do it?

Let’s start with diet. Most Ikarians keep a garden, which provides not just exercise and exposure to the outdoors, but local and organic plant-based calories. Their diet is mostly plant-based, with a Mediterranean pattern that’s nearly 40% greens and other vegetables. They also eat lots of whole grains, beans, and potatoes. And they drink teas brewed from domesticated and wild local herbs, including rosemary, oregano, and sage.

Their Greek Orthodox practice sanctions many fast days per year, which means they’re practicing constant caloric restriction (one of the few interventions that consistently increases lifespan in animals).

Ikaria is a mountainous island, which necessitates plenty of vigorous movement just to get around from one place to another. No need for spin classes or aerobics — just going about daily life on Ikaria keeps residents fit.

Finally residents of Ikaria aren’t going full-out all the time. They enjoy their rest periods, including a daily midafternoon break. They don’t rush around trying not to be late for appointments. Instead, they embrace a more relaxed pace of life. Sometimes they stay up well past midnight playing dominoes and fostering social connections, and sleep in till later in the morning.

No real surprise here. Our challenge as busy Americans is whether or not we will choose to adopt some or all of these lifestyle characteristics.

Life is such a gift – let’s all choose to live it with great faith, hope and love – is there really any other way to become all we were made to be?

Written by Matt Palmer, Partner & Co-Founder