Green Medina

Today we’re living in an era where modern medicine has extended our lifespans—but not necessarily our quality of life. Rates of chronic disease, anxiety, stress, and depression are rising across the globe. Despite technological advances and instant access to information, many people feel more disconnected and overwhelmed than ever.

But in certain corners of the world, people are quietly living lives that defy modern trends. They reach 100 not only with longevity, but with vitality, joy, and purpose. These are the Blue Zones—regions of the world with exceptionally high numbers of people living to 100, and living healthy, functional lives at that!

Clinging to life at all costs (like Gollum in Lord of the Rings with his precious) is not necessarily a spiritually evolved view. Death is a natural part of life. However, it is important to have a life worth living while we’re here. Meaning, for those who do live long lives, it would be great if they could be healthy, active, and purpose driven lives. Not just thirty years of pain and decline tacked onto the end of existence.

The term “blue zones” was first coined by Dan Buettner, a National Geographic Explorer, Fellow, and journalist. After an expedition to Okinawa, Japan in 2000, where he witnessed vibrant centenarians living with joy and purpose, Buettner was inspired to dig deeper. He assembled a team of scientists and demographers to seek out other corners of the world where people not only lived longer but also enjoyed a high quality of life in their old age.

His team sat with centenarians and listened to stories passed down through the generations. In time, five extraordinary regions emerged—places where people not only lived to 100, but did so with energy, connection, and meaning.

Where are the Blue Zones?

Okinawa, Japan: Renowned for its remarkable number of centenarians, Okinawa emphasizes close-knit community ties and a deep sense of purpose in daily life.

Sardinia, Italy: Celebrated for its high population of male centenarians, Sardinia embraces strong family bonds, active outdoor living, and a time-honored Mediterranean diet.

Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica: This region boasts one of the world’s highest concentrations of centenarians, supported by a culture rooted in simplicity, physical activity, and communal living.

Ikaria, Greece: Known for its residents’ low rates of chronic illness, Ikaria nurtures longevity through family-centered living, a connection to nature, and a traditional, wholesome diet. Interesting fact, it was once a place where the Greek government exiled their communists. Perhaps the communal living inspired by their communist population has helped?

Loma Linda, California: Home to a sizeable number of Seventh-day Adventists, Loma Linda is distinguished by its longevity, plant-based diet, and a shared commitment to faith and community wellness.

What is the blue zone secret to long, healthy, and purposeful life? – The power of nine:

As part of the Blue Zone project, the common denominators of healthy living, or longevity lessons, were distilled into the “Power of 9.” That doesn’t necessarily mean that doing these things is a guarantee of a long life, but that there was an overlap of these behaviors among the blue zone areas.

1. Move naturally throughout the day
2. Have and cultivate a strong sense of purpose
3. Downshift every day to relieve stress
4. 80% Rule: stop eating when you are 80 percent full
5. Plant Slant: Make beans, whole grains, veggies, and fruit the center of your diet
6. Wine @ 5: Enjoy wine and alcohol moderately with friends and/or food
7. Belong: Be part of a faith-based community or organization
8. Loved Ones First: Have close friends and strong family connections
9. Right Tribe: Cultivate close friends and strong social networks

These rules all sound good to me except for Rule 6. Most modern studies on alcohol say that no amount of alcohol is good for a person. There’s more about this on the WHO’s website. However, taking time at 5pm each day to relax with friends and drink tannins (the healthy anti-aging, antioxidant part of the wine), does sound very healthy.

What was interesting, is that the Blue Zone team found that DNA and geography did not contribute to the long lives of these communities. Indeed, these communities are in different parts of the world and are ethnically different. The Seventh Day Adventist community in Loma Linda, California, is a racially diverse community.

However, it was found that a “Western-influenced lifestyle” and diet were causing blue zones to die out. Part of the reason why the blue zones had such comparatively higher health outcomes is because they had some degree of isolation from the world. It was this isolation that allowed them to avoid the Western-influenced lifestyle as much as possible.

What is the Western-influenced lifestyle? The Blue Zone website describes it as a lifestyle with diets high in processed foods and meat. It also involves a sedentary couch potato lifestyle, high stress, and isolation.

Yet Loma Linda California is an interesting case of a community surrounded by the western-lifestyle perse and still maintaining health in old age. They live a decade longer than other Americans, with lower rates of chronic disease and dementia. So what is their secret sauce? “The cafeteria at Loma Linda University is vegetarian, residents fought the introduction of fast food chains to the town, they remain actively involved in their faith and church community, and they are physically active into their 80s and 90s (Blue Zones).”

In the end, what the Blue Zones teach us is not just how to live longer—but how to live well. Across oceans and continents, these communities reveal a quiet truth: longevity isn’t about resisting death at all costs, but about living each day with intention, connection, and care.

From Okinawa to Loma Linda, the common thread is clear: a life grounded in purpose, shaped by loving relationships, and supported by rhythms that honor the body and soul. Faith plays a central role—not always in the same form, but always pointing toward something greater than the self. Whether it’s daily prayer, remembering one’s ancestors, service to others, or gathering with loved ones in sacred community, spirituality nourishes not only the heart, but the health of those who live it.

In a world increasingly marked by stress, disconnection, and overconsumption, the blue zones offer a gentle but powerful invitation: to slow down, to reconnect, prioritize a higher purpose, and to choose a life not only of years—but of meaning.