Michael Z
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern Wisconsin
I have been watching "Blue Zone" documentaries as of late. As you may know, Blue Zones are places where people live well into their 90's at a much higher percentage than the general population. I found the Loma Linda and Icaria (island off Greece) zones interesting as the people not only lived longer, but also looked and functioned better as well, where as in some other blue zone areas, people that were near 100 seemed to look and function more as one would expect. I think diet is key and that is what most who have studied blue zones also conclude. Eating a diet that consists of whole foods and lots of fruits and vegetables with a minimum (or absence) of meat is key. Home grown or wild grown (Icaria) vegetables is even better. Also, a regular physical activity, whether managing a country farm or homestead or at a gym (Loma Linda) is also key. In addition, a sense of community and purpose is important. In Icaria, old and young live together without separation. In Loma Linda, church life integrates old with young (as they do in my own church). Moderate drinking of home made wines took place in Icaria (and other blue zones) where as there was no use of alcohol in Loma Linda. I think as long as one consumed enough dark red fruits, as the Loma Linda people did, they would get the same benefits as the moderate use of wine. At any rate alcohol abuse would not be the recipe for any good in a community due to the stress it would induce. I have been on a "blue zone diet' for about 6 years now due to my prostate cancer. My cancer seems to now be in remission however I stay on the diet to minimize aches and pains - a vegetarian diet is shown to greatly reduce inflammation. When I go off the diet for a few days or a week, I start reaching for the bottle of ibuprofen! I eat salads daily, but they are not what you think - there is no lettuce in any of my salads but rather a mixture of spinach, kale, onion, peppers, tomato, cauliflower, shredded cabbage, curry powder, pepper, olive oil, and unpasteurized apple cider vinegar. I top off the salad with rice, quinoa, black beans or sometimes poached fish or a small amount of chicken. For breakfast I have oatmeal with thawed cherry berry fruit mix or fresh berries if I have them and walnuts and fresh ginger. I use almond or oat milk instead of dairy although I sneak in a small amount of butter mixed with olive oil on things like boiled vegetables or popcorn.
Yeah, I am preaching here. But as I read the long thread on pain management, I felt kind of sad for folks turning to prescription medicines that often have unwanted side effects where as they could possibly get pain relief and a lot of other benefits with a diet and lifestyle change.
Check out the short videos at
and
Yeah, I am preaching here. But as I read the long thread on pain management, I felt kind of sad for folks turning to prescription medicines that often have unwanted side effects where as they could possibly get pain relief and a lot of other benefits with a diet and lifestyle change.
Check out the short videos at
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