🔵 How The Healthiest “Blue Zone” U.S. Cities Live
And how anyone from any city can replicate it.
Aging.com came out with a list of “blue zone cities in the U.S.”
I love that there is a conversation around this topic, but we also have to remember that where you live doesn’t need to be the only determinant of your lifespan.
How you live is what we can draw from these cities.
Newsletter Summary:
What cities in the U.S. have longer lifespans than the rest
What they do and what we can take from them to add to our life
One thought about longevity
🔵 Which U.S. Cities are Blue Zones?
No, I’m not talking about Democratic counties.
I’m talking about areas of the U.S. with a higher average lifespan than other areas.
My best bet for people who live in these U.S. blue zones is that they don’t let the outside world stress them out too much.
Places like Loma Linda, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Cruz in California, which cracked the top 3 of Aging.com’s list, have made changes at the local government level — no drive through restaurants, anti-smoking policies, and promoting non-processed, family-owned food distribution — and also have an abundance of fitness studios in their neighborhoods.
The list is not just full of sunny, perfect-climate places either.
Norwalk, CT and Boulder Colorado, which get decently snowy throughout the year, also rank very high on the list.
These areas aren’t necessarily all physically-inclined locations either.
Despite Colorado’s mountainous state boasting two cities on the list, having hiking nearby is not a prerequisite for long life and fitness.
Most of these cities are very walkable and/or traversable — huge sidewalks, an abundance of bike lanes, public parks and pools are all found in large numbers in each of the cities on the list.
Also cracking the list maybe somewhat unexpectedly:
Provo, Utah
Napes, Florida
Barnstable Town, Massachussetts
The entire state of Hawaii
What U.S. Blue Zones Do To Elongate Life
The protocols for adding time to your life, according to the deep-dive from the website, are as follows:
Plant-Based Diets
Blue Zone diets are 95% plant-based: mainly vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and nuts.
Meat is limited to about five servings per month.
Many mention regular wine consumption (which I disagree with), but it’s worth noting they only drink one glass when they do drink.
The 80% Rule
Blue Zones eat until they’re 80% full to avoid overeating.
Slow eating helps recognize fullness and prevents excess intake.
Small, light meals later in the day support digestion and longevity.
Sense of Purpose
People who live in Blue Zones maintain a purpose-driven life, which enhances well-being.
They engage in their passions regularly, while also volunteering or having creative pursuits to add to daily motivation and happiness.
Community
Faith: Regular involvement in religious or spiritual practices boosts life expectancy.
Family First: Prioritizing close family bonds and mutual care enhances emotional and physical health.
Social Circles: Surrounding yourself with health-minded friends, or a “moai” group, strengthens resilience and wellness.
Managing Stress
Stress reduction practices like prayer, naps, or social breaks (e.g., happy hour) are common.
Consistent, quality sleep helps manage stress and supports longevity.
One Final Thought About Longevity
You might notice that nothing on this list is revolutionary or completely new.
Focusing on the basics and doing them extremely well and consistently is something I remind all my clients to do regularly.
While some of these things that long-living people do — search for and maintain purpose and keep close connections, for example — seem hard in today’s social climate, remember that you don’t need to find these things immediately.
Some of the most incredible transformations I’ve seen in my seven year training career have come from the people who stopped trying to obsess over every metric of health.
Yes, it’s possible to elongate your life without scoring an A+ in every category.
Paradoxically, becoming too stressed about every detail might not be healthy for you.
If today’s newsletter list is an overwhelming ask for you, try to do just one of these Blue Zone things exceptionally well, and i’m sure your life will change positively.
See you all on Friday.