| Peter Pan's Neverland and the mythical "Fountain | | | | doesn't solely consist of 4-5 trips to the gym per |
| of Youth" might be two options you long for in | | | | week and a vegetarian diet. |
| order to live a long and healthy life. But, back in | | | | No matter what kind of lifestyle you plan to lead, |
| reality, there are some people living considerably | | | | if you want to stay healthy, you need to |
| longer and healthier lives in certain geographical | | | | exercise. However, exercise, as you know, |
| locations across the globe. These locations are | | | | comes in many forms. Exercise isn't a word that |
| called blue zones. | | | | has to have a $30/month gym membership |
| According to the CIA Word Factbook, the | | | | tagged to it. Most of the people living in blue |
| average human-life expectancy for the world is | | | | zones get their exercise for free. By hiking, |
| about 66 years. However, in blue zones, it's | | | | climbing, and working on the land, these people |
| common for people to live 90-100 years with | | | | get all the exercise their bodies need. So, you |
| hardly any dependence on medication and very | | | | exercise. They exercise. What's the difference? |
| limited disabilities. So, how are they doing this? | | | | Why do they get to live longer and stay healthy? |
| Currently, there five areas in the world classified | | | | The answer: stress. |
| as blue zones: | | | | Stress can cripple your immune system. One |
| Sardinia, Italy | | | | thing that remained unanimous throughout each |
| Okinawa, Japan | | | | blue zone was a low-stress-level lifestyle. Strong |
| Loma Linda, California | | | | family ties, a definitive sense of purpose, and |
| Nicoya, Costa Rica | | | | general happiness can be a massive immune |
| Ikaria, Greece | | | | system boost. Basically, there is no quick fix to |
| In these regions people are living longer, healthier | | | | living long and healthy. You need to truly adapt |
| lives not because they spend their days on | | | | that lifestyle, a task much easier said than done; |
| treadmills or because they have advanced dietary | | | | however, it's not impossible. Even some of us |
| supplements. People living in blue zones have been | | | | Americans-those in Loma Linda, California, at |
| taking advantage of a genuinely healthy lifestyle. | | | | least-have managed to pull this type of lifestyle |
| Now, I know what you're thinking: but I live a | | | | off. |
| healthy lifestyle. Well, sadly, a healthy lifestyle | | | | |