The Blue Zones Secrets for Living Longer: Lessons From the Healthiest Places on Earth

I absolutely loved this book. The evidence and simple steps to entering a different way of living are possible and plausible even in our fast paced, American culture. Will it be difficult for some, I'm absolutely sure, but it will be worth it. After implementing just a few new habits for the past 2 weeks, my wife and I can already tell a difference in our bodies and our moods. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for Lifestyle changes that can not only make you live longer, but healthier, and happier as well.

The most reliable thing we have is science consensus which is much more reliable than all other sources combined including tourist observations of blue zones. Science consensus says wine causes cancer so I would not follow tourist recommendations to drink some wine for health. I have been a philosophical determinist since college and I can assure everyone that having 0 purpose does not reduce years of life. Most people do need religions and just as there are science based diets, there are also science based religions. Unrefined vegan diet with vitamin b12 supplement plus exercise is compatible with the science consensus and if need inspirations, can look at individuals living long and productive lives like whole foods plant based researcher T Colin Campbell, starch solution diet Dr John McDougall, etc. People who rely on blue zones observations like Dr Michael Greger are just relying on unreliable anecdotes. Tourist observations of miso or dr michael greger recommendation of miso salt as harmless (based on maybe just 1 study or a few studies) is contrary to science consensus, and in japan, japan authorities are telling japan seniors to avoid miso to reduce stroke risk. Identification of blue zones is not reliable as seen in the case of Campodimele, Italy which used to have lots of old people but when the young people moved out, the old people also moved out, so we can see that there are complex reasons why a place might have no old people or why a place might have plenty of old people. Blue zones interviews also rely on the unreliable memories of old people bec what are being studied are historical blue zones bec current blue zones do not exist anymore due to the strong influence of the industrial diet of refined chemicals like oil and high amounts of artificially selected high fat animal products over the years (hard to find any group still on a pre industrial diet). The 1949 okinawa diet was healthy and low in animal products bec world war 2 killed a large percentage of people in okinawa (japan mainland decided to sacrifice the people in okinawa to slow down the american invasion) and also destroyed the pig industry in okinawa and it took many years for the pig industry to recover. For example, I have been doing unrefined vegan diet with vitamin b12 for more than 10 years and for about 5 years have been doing manual labor work (no car since year 2000), and I am healthier (in spite of a weak mitral valve) than my obese older brother who is a singapore citizen. I can assure everyone that singapore is not a blue zone and the longevity in singapore (and hong kong and iceland) can easily be attributed to great medical insurance (what is the use of great medical insurance if you are paralyzed in bed during your last years of life). People in hong kong now eat more animal products than americans and life expectancy in hong kong is higher than in america. I worked in singapore for 3 years and singapore has the same obesity problem from the industrial diet as other countries. Chubby asians and india people are already obese bec for asians and india people, normal bmi is in the narrow range of around 18 to 22 (i got prediabetes from bmi of around 23). Many chubby asians and India people do not know they are obese bec they are following the bmi ranges for americans. I am familiar with 7th day adventists and their studies can be biased bec they believe their diet recommendations come from revelations from god. 7th day adventist vegan diets are not that healthy bec of overuse of refined chemicals like vegan fake meats so I would not use 7th day adventist vegans as inspirations. Book does contain plenty of science consensus to be useful.

Great read

I really enjoyed the spirt and overall feeling of this book (likewise the Netflix series). But did anybody else burst out laughing when they reached the bottom of page 206? (Lessons from Singapore's Blue Zone)"Focus on financial success: If status, financial security, and a sense of accomplishment are important to you, you might want to put most of your life's focus on making as much money as you can. For someone like you, by and large, the richer you get, the more satisfied you'll be." On the one hand, as my daughter said, he's stating the obvious. On the other hand, the moral value of that is a little, let's just say, unusual. And, doesn't prioritizing status, craving external prestige and validation, and earning lots of money, lead many to health problems from the stress and the feeling of always needing more, more, more etc. ? I read that and thought: how did that get by the editors? Was it snuck into the book as a kind of joke? Anyway, take what works, what makes sense to you, and leave the rest.Update: Page 220 totally contradicts page 206. "Unlike many Americans, for whom accomplishment, status, and material wealth are highly revered, people in the blue zones don't get into the trap of overworking, overspending, and undersocializing." Again, how did this contradiction get by the editors? I would have expected more careful attention from a National Geographic publication.