How do
we live longer, happier, healthier lives ?
This question has pre-occupied the best
minds, the most philosophical people, the most scientific minds. Now, The
National Geographic Society funded survey, by Author Dan Buettner in his book The Blue Zones Solution, has laid bare some of the age-old secrets, the
secret sauces, that go into the healthy
mix of genes, diet, lifestyles and relationships that result in healthy and
happy individuals in some of the most unlikely areas of the world.
It turns
out that there is no one magic answer, no single secret sauce, no single diet
plan, to achieve the modern day elixir of youth and (almost) eternal life. It
is a complex soup ,a khichdi, if you will, of many ingredients, that interact
with each other, the individual and the community, to get within achievable
milestones of that elusive goal.
But
first things first. Where do we find
such elusive people ? Where are they hidden away from us, since we have yet not decoded their
longevity secrets and healthy-living formulas? At least 5 such geographical
areas in the world have been identified, where such centenarions are to be
found. These areas are labeled Blue Zones by the researchers, and are –
Blue Zones.
1. IKARIA, GREECE.
2. OKINAWA, JAPAN.
3. OGLIASTRA REGION, SARDINIA,ITALY.
4. LOMA LINDA, CALIFORNIA.
5. NICOYA PENINSULA, COSTA RICA.
The
researchers threw up interesting and thought provoking facts. Diets were
largely vegetarian, with fruits, nuts
and curd(probiotics), and low protein and fats. Soyabeans,turmeric, bitter melon,apricots,
appear to contribute to longevity and good health,along with
regular,low-intensity exercise.
But
perhaps the most thought-provoking facts were that the nature of happy relationships that the individuals
forged within their deeply rooted communities, had a significant bearing on the
quality of life led in such closely-knit communities. Positivity in
relationships was important, and life-long friendships with friends with a positive attitude, were key factors.In Loma Linda,California,USA,perhaps living in a small,God-fearing close-knit community that emphasized each one,help one, may have also contributed.
So what was suprising about the research ? Perhaps nothing,no single fact was unearthed,that we already did not know. But what was important was that it was a scientifically conducted study,across geaographical regions,races, lifestyles, with diversity of genetic heritages.
There was no single secret sauce,no magic formula, no alchemist needed to mix and match the elements. If anything,it was amazing in it's breath-taking conclusions, yet simple and complex at the same time. The facts,as one could say,were "staring in the face" for ages,but it needed someone to put them together in a scientific, coherent way. It was the message in the bottle that lay waiting to be discovered.
MPSingh
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