2 Life-Enriching Morning Rituals
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN LONGEVITY? You might want to look at the habits of folks in so-called Blue Zones. What are people in Okinawa (Japan), Nicoya (Costa Rica), Sardinia (Italy), Ikaria (Greece), and Loma Linda (USA) doing to see so many centenarians?
I recently read some provocative observations at bluezones.com. What do you think?
- Travel to the Aegean island of Ikaria, and you will find its residents outlive Americans by eight years. Moreover, these Mediterranean people have half our heart disease rates and very little dementia.
- East of Los Angeles lives a community of Adventists. This faith-centered community has much to demonstrate about the power of fruit, friendship, faith, and community.
- The most extended lives among women are in Okinawa. Is diet a part of their secret sauce?
- And what about Nicoya? Residents there are twice as likely as Americans to reach a healthy age of 90.
- Sardinia has the greatest concentration of males living to age 100 or more.
Today, I want to look at the practices in two of the Blue Zones.
1. Blue zone — Okinawa (Japan)
There is no single practice that explains individuals’ long life and health expectancy in Blue Zones. Let’s look at some of the morning rituals of these long-lived people.
We begin in Okinawa. But first, this question to you: Upon awakening, what drives you to get up and go? The Japanese concept of ikigai centers on finding what sparks your soul, what gives you purpose and joy.
Neuroscientist and author of Awakening Your Ikigai Ken Mogi offers some tips for discovering your reason for being. Embrace these pillars, he suggests 1) Start small; 2) release yourself; 3) harmony and sustainability; 4) the joy of little things, and 5) be present.
Starting small means focusing on details. Release yourself refers to accepting yourself as you are. Harmony and sustainability speak to relying on others, while the joy of little things refers to appreciating sensory pleasure. Finally, Mogi implores us to find our flow, to be present in the here and now.
Do you have a strong sense of purpose in life? Mine is helping others in the realm of health and wellness.
2. Blue zone — Loma Linda (USA)
I would be remiss if I did not refer to food! Centenarians in the Blue Zones tend to have healthy diets, whether plant-based or Italian (I have learned from a sharp reader that the term Mediterranean diet is too broad, as so many cultural practices ring the Mediterranean).
You may have heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But is it? According to National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, one-quarter of people in the United States skip this meal.
Observational studies suggest that those who consume breakfast regularly are more likely to be healthy. You know the problem: Observational studies show association and not causality.
For example, if you are a breakfast eater, you are more likely to consume a healthier diet, including more micronutrients and fiber. Skip breakfast, and you are more likely to smoke and consume more alcohol than morning meal fans.
Back to our Blue Zones. Seventh-day Adventists outlive other North Americans by approximately seven to 11 years.
Seventh-day Adventists are, by and large, vegetarians. Nearly one in three are vegetarian, and within that group are mostly Lacto-Ovo vegetarian, meaning they consume no flesh, but they do eat dairy and eggs. And no alcohol.
I am not implying that this so-called Garden of Eden diet is the sole reason for this religious group’s long life and healthspan, but I wanted to share an example of a diet in a Blue Zone.
Thank you for joining me.
The information I provided in this blog is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you seek medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. I am not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information in this blog.