Longevity: 3 habits of people who live longer, healthier, and happier lives

There are five pillars to an average Blue Zone diet: whole grains, vegetables, starchy tubers, nuts, and beans. Beans being the most important one. One cup of beans a day could add two or three years to your life. Just like an apple a day keeps the doctor away.

Beef and dairy are not a significant part of the diet although you'll find they occasionally consume sheep and goat's milk. In addition, no more than three eggs are consumed per week.

As for beverages, the Blue Zones people are really into their water and tea. They mostly drink herbal and green teas. And no more than two glasses of wine a day. No fizzy sugary drinks in sight!

But diet is only part of the picture

In towns like Hunza, there are people who dance until they are 90 years old and it is one of their greatest secrets of longevity. But also, in other populations such as Okinawa or the Caucasus, they remain active until the day of their death. They are not locked up watching television all day. They walk every day and do housework, far removed from a sedentary life. 

Humans are extremely social creatures, and from an early age, we learn the importance of teamwork and collaboration. Children who cannot lift a bucket of water on their own will understand that they can succeed in working in a group, whereas a young chimp may not realize this. Blue Zones residents spend time with friends and family daily. They regularly visit neighbors and have a strong spirit of collaboration.

Some Blue Zones are located in very narrow and rugged regions that were not always accessible to industrial roads. This element of being isolated in remote places not only protected these areas from the effects of globalization but also forced people to form close social connections with each other, and to incorporate many uphill and downhill walks into their daily routines. Walking is one of the best forms of exercise and doesn't require much focus, thus leading to a sort of meditation.

As you can see, these daily habits are easy to incorporate into our routines. We may still be living in busy cities and taking public transport to get places instead of strolling through the Italian countryside, but adding these little tricks may make us a bit happier and healthier. Give them a try!

Find out where Blue Zones are located

You may also like this article about 11 habits for a healthier life!

It is known to all that stress ages prematurely and is a common denominator for all the diseases that plague Western civilization. However, older populations do not like the concept of being in a hurry or having chronic stress. In other words, they do not know the term "deadline".