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The Blue Zones Solution: Eating and Living Like the World's Healthiest People
Bestselling author Dan Buettner reveals how to transform your health using smart nutrition, lifestyle, and fitness habits gleaned from longevity research on the diets, eating habits, and lifestyle practices of the communities he's identified as "Blue Zones"—those places with the world's longest-lived, and thus healthiest, people, including locations such as Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula; Ikaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, California.
With the audacious belief that the lifestyles of the world's Blue Zones could be adapted and replicated in towns across North America, Buettner launched the largest preventive health care project in the United States, The Blue Zones City Makeovers, which has impacted the health of millions of Americans since 2009. In The Blue Zones Solution , readers can be inspired by the specific stories of the people, foods, and routines of our healthy elders; understand the role community, family, and naturally healthy habits can play in improving our diet and health; and learn the exact foods—including the 50 superfoods of longevity and dozens of recipes adapted for Western tastes and markets—that offer delicious ways to eat your way to optimum health. Throughout the book are lifestyle recommendations, checklists, and stories to help you create your own personal Blue Zones solution. Readers will learn and apply the 80/20 rule, the plant slant diet, social aspects of eating that lead to weight loss and great health naturally, cultivating your "tribe" of friends and family, and your greater purpose as part of your daily routine.
Filled with moving personal stories, delicious recipes, checklists, and useful tips that will transform any home into a miniature blue zone, The Blue Zones Solution is the ultimate blueprint for a healthy, happy life.
With the audacious belief that the lifestyles of the world's Blue Zones could be adapted and replicated in towns across North America, Buettner launched the largest preventive health care project in the United States, The Blue Zones City Makeovers, which has impacted the health of millions of Americans since 2009. In The Blue Zones Solution , readers can be inspired by the specific stories of the people, foods, and routines of our healthy elders; understand the role community, family, and naturally healthy habits can play in improving our diet and health; and learn the exact foods—including the 50 superfoods of longevity and dozens of recipes adapted for Western tastes and markets—that offer delicious ways to eat your way to optimum health. Throughout the book are lifestyle recommendations, checklists, and stories to help you create your own personal Blue Zones solution. Readers will learn and apply the 80/20 rule, the plant slant diet, social aspects of eating that lead to weight loss and great health naturally, cultivating your "tribe" of friends and family, and your greater purpose as part of your daily routine.
Filled with moving personal stories, delicious recipes, checklists, and useful tips that will transform any home into a miniature blue zone, The Blue Zones Solution is the ultimate blueprint for a healthy, happy life.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published April 7, 2014
1458 people are currently reading
6757 people want to read
About the author
Dan Buettner
27 books640 followersNational Geographic Explorer Dan Buettner has traveled the globe to uncover the best strategies for longevity.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 433 reviews
August 12, 2015
So, my three-star rating comes by way of compromise: for myself, personally, this book was probably of two-star caliber (glad I got it thru inter-library loan); but for someone who has been eating the Standard American Diet (or SAD, i.e., lots of processed foods and fast foods), and living the typical high-stress, low-activity lifestyle, this would probably be a four-star book.
It seems, these days, that if I look over the healthy cooking and diet shelves, books fall into two broad categories--vegan and paleo. While not vegan, this one is much closer to that edge of the spectrum (at one point the author admits that he was surprised by how much the Okinawans enjoy pork, as he assumed the healthiest diet would be almost vegan). I have read a lot from both camps, and dabbled in each, and come to the conclusion that...both are right. For example, my favorite authors in both camps would agree on:
1. Eat mostly whole foods, and avoid processed foods like the plague. Especially all those salty and sugary snacks and sodas.
2. Get a reasonable amount of exercise. Don't be sedentary and don't overdo it either.
3. Get a handle on stress, and get enough sleep already!
4. Make most of your meals at home...eating out is full of perils including inflated portion sizes.
5. Find your community, which might include church groups, pets or nature.
So I appreciated this book, in that it definitely encouraged the reader to embark on a whole foods adventure, and mentioned how these long-lived "blue zones" communities included many other lifestyle factors as well. But if you have already read a lot on the topic, there's nothing new here that demands you seek out this book as well.
I did have a couple of quibbles. One is that it seemed a bit too meat-phobic. And at one point, the author said that "all" vegetable oils were okay and better than animal-based ones. Really? Because if you're comparing lard versus olive oil, then OK, the Blue Zones thing is probably behind that . But I'll take rendered duck fat or ghee over refined canola, soy or corn oil any day. And I highly doubt that traditional Sardinians or Okinawans had lots of Canola oil on their shelves anyway.
But I don't want to get too caught up in nit-picking, because the typical American diet and lifestyle is terrible, and any book encouraging people to live another way, whether plant or paleo-centered, has the potential to help someone.
It seems, these days, that if I look over the healthy cooking and diet shelves, books fall into two broad categories--vegan and paleo. While not vegan, this one is much closer to that edge of the spectrum (at one point the author admits that he was surprised by how much the Okinawans enjoy pork, as he assumed the healthiest diet would be almost vegan). I have read a lot from both camps, and dabbled in each, and come to the conclusion that...both are right. For example, my favorite authors in both camps would agree on:
1. Eat mostly whole foods, and avoid processed foods like the plague. Especially all those salty and sugary snacks and sodas.
2. Get a reasonable amount of exercise. Don't be sedentary and don't overdo it either.
3. Get a handle on stress, and get enough sleep already!
4. Make most of your meals at home...eating out is full of perils including inflated portion sizes.
5. Find your community, which might include church groups, pets or nature.
So I appreciated this book, in that it definitely encouraged the reader to embark on a whole foods adventure, and mentioned how these long-lived "blue zones" communities included many other lifestyle factors as well. But if you have already read a lot on the topic, there's nothing new here that demands you seek out this book as well.
I did have a couple of quibbles. One is that it seemed a bit too meat-phobic. And at one point, the author said that "all" vegetable oils were okay and better than animal-based ones. Really? Because if you're comparing lard versus olive oil, then OK, the Blue Zones thing is probably behind that . But I'll take rendered duck fat or ghee over refined canola, soy or corn oil any day. And I highly doubt that traditional Sardinians or Okinawans had lots of Canola oil on their shelves anyway.
But I don't want to get too caught up in nit-picking, because the typical American diet and lifestyle is terrible, and any book encouraging people to live another way, whether plant or paleo-centered, has the potential to help someone.
August 23, 2025
I am a huge fan of Dan Buettner and the terrific work he has done with Blue Zones, hot spots where people live to be 100 years old at a 10x rate compared to other communities. Prior to reading The Blue Zones Solution: Eating and Living Like the World's Healthiest People, I had read The Blue Zones Secrets for Living Longer: Lessons From the Healthiest Places on Earth and The Blue Zones Kitchen: 100 Recipes to Live to 100.
Buettner's writing style is authentic, folksy, non-judgmental, and inspirational. He is genuinely interested in people around the world and how their lifestyle behaviors impact the length and quality of their lives. To sum it up succinctly, we should eat well, stress less, move more, and love more. Buettner provides easy to follow advice on how to make these items easier to do.
This book is divided into four sections:
* Lessons learned from five of the Blue Zones
* U.S. communities that committed to creating Blue Zone environments and their results
* How to build your own Blue Zone
* Blue Zone recipes
Memorable passages and information include:
* North Karelia, Finland incorporated Blue Zone habits and reduced heart disease by 80% and cancer by 80% among their 170,000 residents.
* In some US cities that have incorporated Blue Zone approaches, there has been a reduction of childhood obesity by 50% and a reduction of smoking by 30%.
* The average American makes about 200 food decisions each day, but we are only aware of about 30 of them.
* Albert Lea, Minnesota created "walking school buses" where 40 students walk to school rather than take the bus. The students are accompanied by parents and teachers.
* Eat out only for celebrations. People who eat out consume about 275 more calories per day than people who eat at home.
* 200 extra calories per day can add up to an additional 20 pounds over a year.
* Okinawans practice eating until they are 80% full. It is estimated that Americans could lose about 17 pounds/year by eating until they are 80% full.
* Most Americans live within a mile of an average of seven fast-food restaurants.
* For every hour we sit, we lose about 22 minutes of life expectancy.
* People who weigh themselves daily weigh less than people who never weigh themselves. In one study, women who weighed themselves daily weighed 17 pounds less after two years than women who never weighed themselves.
* Centenarians in Blue Zones only watch 30 - 60 minutes of television per day.
* Assess your circle of friends and their habits around food, movement, and socialization. Research shows we start mimicking the behavior of our friends. Carefully cultivate your closest social circle.
Eighty percent of our lives is spent within a twenty-mile radius. In summary, the key to longevity is re-creating Blue Zone environments in our lives.
Buettner refers to other additional books:
Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think
Slim by Design: Mindless Eating Solutions for Everyday Life
I highly recommend The Blue Zones Solution: Eating and Living Like the World's Healthiest People!
Buettner's writing style is authentic, folksy, non-judgmental, and inspirational. He is genuinely interested in people around the world and how their lifestyle behaviors impact the length and quality of their lives. To sum it up succinctly, we should eat well, stress less, move more, and love more. Buettner provides easy to follow advice on how to make these items easier to do.
This book is divided into four sections:
* Lessons learned from five of the Blue Zones
* U.S. communities that committed to creating Blue Zone environments and their results
* How to build your own Blue Zone
* Blue Zone recipes
Memorable passages and information include:
* North Karelia, Finland incorporated Blue Zone habits and reduced heart disease by 80% and cancer by 80% among their 170,000 residents.
* In some US cities that have incorporated Blue Zone approaches, there has been a reduction of childhood obesity by 50% and a reduction of smoking by 30%.
* The average American makes about 200 food decisions each day, but we are only aware of about 30 of them.
* Albert Lea, Minnesota created "walking school buses" where 40 students walk to school rather than take the bus. The students are accompanied by parents and teachers.
* Eat out only for celebrations. People who eat out consume about 275 more calories per day than people who eat at home.
* 200 extra calories per day can add up to an additional 20 pounds over a year.
* Okinawans practice eating until they are 80% full. It is estimated that Americans could lose about 17 pounds/year by eating until they are 80% full.
* Most Americans live within a mile of an average of seven fast-food restaurants.
* For every hour we sit, we lose about 22 minutes of life expectancy.
* People who weigh themselves daily weigh less than people who never weigh themselves. In one study, women who weighed themselves daily weighed 17 pounds less after two years than women who never weighed themselves.
* Centenarians in Blue Zones only watch 30 - 60 minutes of television per day.
* Assess your circle of friends and their habits around food, movement, and socialization. Research shows we start mimicking the behavior of our friends. Carefully cultivate your closest social circle.
Eighty percent of our lives is spent within a twenty-mile radius. In summary, the key to longevity is re-creating Blue Zone environments in our lives.
Buettner refers to other additional books:
Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think
Slim by Design: Mindless Eating Solutions for Everyday Life
I highly recommend The Blue Zones Solution: Eating and Living Like the World's Healthiest People!
September 1, 2015
Buddy read with Mishy so we can live to be 100 together. We are going to be a very fun couple living on an island in the Mediterranean. According to this book, we will need to be mostly vegan and should probably have some goats to herd. Come see us if you're still alive. We'll serve you a salad and 3oz. of red wine.
June 9, 2015
Some good take-aways, but basic understanding can be had from watching the documentary made, or lectures done by Buettner.
I'm glad that wild greens were recognized for their nutritional significance, and raw forms of milk, as well as lifestyle differences (naps, family style dining, steady movement, etc), but wish more focus would have been put on the gut microbe difference in people around the world due to diet, lifestyle, and environmental factors. It was the obvious thread running through the various blue zones but not overtly stated.
I'm glad that wild greens were recognized for their nutritional significance, and raw forms of milk, as well as lifestyle differences (naps, family style dining, steady movement, etc), but wish more focus would have been put on the gut microbe difference in people around the world due to diet, lifestyle, and environmental factors. It was the obvious thread running through the various blue zones but not overtly stated.
April 19, 2015
Written by a "National Geographic" staffer, this brief book examines the diets of five very long-lived populations from Sardinia, Greece, Okinawa, and Central American and U.S. Seventh Day Adventists, all of whom eat primarily plant-based diets with sparing amounts of meat/animal protein, dairy products, and sweets. Buettner suggests that part of their longevity is based on their vegan/vegetarian diets. While the conclusion appears sound, the book is marred by speculation and unsubstantiated assertions. The author posits with no real evidence, for example, that dairy products from cows should be avoided while goat's milk and perhaps sheep's milk products, especially if fermented (cheese), may have benefit. The discussion of micronutrients is also poorly documented, and the benefit of living in tightly knit societies with lots of friends and relations is not analyzed in any scientific way. While I tend to be a believer, conviction is no substitute for well-analyzed data.
March 29, 2015
Very interesting and easy to read but information isn't new to anyone interested in health and nutrition. Did enjoy the various cultures and similarities in healthful eating and living.
May 7, 2025
Some notes from the book — We’re more likely to make healthier choices when it’s easier to do so. Breakfast like a king lunch like a prince dinner like a pauper. Avoid predator fish like tuna. For every hour we seat we lose about 22 minutes of life expectancy. (It’s not surprising, is it?) we start mimicking the behaviour and even the feelings of our close friends so set up for better health behaviours long term.
April 6, 2018
What a entertaining read. I just love reading about different cultures, and this book reminded me of the cultural anthropology course that I once took and loved, but this course is made with a twist of lemon. By “twist of lemon” I mean that it is about food, but it is also about how food affects your longevity. The part I really loved though was on how the people lived, and that is where the cultural anthropology came in to play.
The author visits six different cultures that have the same things in common: longevity, the food they eat, and the food they avoid.
I liked the culture on the Greek Island of Ikaria best, as the food and their life style seemed much more appealing to me. So I will just quote a few paragraphs of what he has to say about them:
“For the many religious and cultural holidays, people pool their money and buy food and wine. If there is money left over, they give it to the poor. It’s not a “me” place. It’s an “us” place.” I love that idea.
“The Mediterranean diet, a menu rich in olive oil and vegetables, low in diary and meat, with some alcohol daily. On Ikaria, it also includes an abundance of potatoes, goat milk, beans, and some fruit.”
And here is where my “twist of lemon” comes in:
“Dr. Leriadis mentioned wild marjoram, sage (fiaskomilia), a type of mint tea (fliskouni), olive tree leaf infusions, rosemary, and a tea made from boiling dandelion leaves and drinking the water with a little lemon. ‘People here think they’re drinking a comforting beverage, but they all double as medicine.’” Maybe the author, Dan Buettner’s next book will tell how to make these teas.
“Old people here will start their day with a spoonful of honey. They take it like medicine.”
How do I stack up to this Greek diet? Hmmm. I only drink goat milk, I use only olive oil, but I do eat real butter, whole sprouted wheat bread, fruits and veggies, minus the lemon. I don’t eat sugar, so honey is ruled out. I do eat meat but not much. And once in a while I will have a baked potato with lots of butter. Oh, and forget the alcohol as very little will do me in. As for the beans, well, they taste good in homemade burritos with beef. And while their diet is low of eggs, I probably eat 4 to 6 of them a day. Will I change my diet? No. Eggs, for me, takes place of meat much of the time.
The author visits six different cultures that have the same things in common: longevity, the food they eat, and the food they avoid.
I liked the culture on the Greek Island of Ikaria best, as the food and their life style seemed much more appealing to me. So I will just quote a few paragraphs of what he has to say about them:
“For the many religious and cultural holidays, people pool their money and buy food and wine. If there is money left over, they give it to the poor. It’s not a “me” place. It’s an “us” place.” I love that idea.
“The Mediterranean diet, a menu rich in olive oil and vegetables, low in diary and meat, with some alcohol daily. On Ikaria, it also includes an abundance of potatoes, goat milk, beans, and some fruit.”
And here is where my “twist of lemon” comes in:
“Dr. Leriadis mentioned wild marjoram, sage (fiaskomilia), a type of mint tea (fliskouni), olive tree leaf infusions, rosemary, and a tea made from boiling dandelion leaves and drinking the water with a little lemon. ‘People here think they’re drinking a comforting beverage, but they all double as medicine.’” Maybe the author, Dan Buettner’s next book will tell how to make these teas.
“Old people here will start their day with a spoonful of honey. They take it like medicine.”
How do I stack up to this Greek diet? Hmmm. I only drink goat milk, I use only olive oil, but I do eat real butter, whole sprouted wheat bread, fruits and veggies, minus the lemon. I don’t eat sugar, so honey is ruled out. I do eat meat but not much. And once in a while I will have a baked potato with lots of butter. Oh, and forget the alcohol as very little will do me in. As for the beans, well, they taste good in homemade burritos with beef. And while their diet is low of eggs, I probably eat 4 to 6 of them a day. Will I change my diet? No. Eggs, for me, takes place of meat much of the time.
October 10, 2019
Really enjoyed listening to the author in person, the book not so much. Recipes poorly done.
September 16, 2018
I was chatting with my doctor about food and she told me about this book, The Blue Zones Solution where the author narrowed down and studied five areas in the world (Italy, Greece, Japan, Costa Rica, and California) that contained the highest concentration of centenarians. His conclusion was that four things these areas had in common were 1) a whole foods, plant-based diet, 2) good stress management techniques, 3) moderate exercise, and 4) good community. I really think at some point, conventional Western ideas of a healthy diet influenced his reading of data, because he kept saying a “plant-based, low-fat diet”. While they did all have a high concentration of vegetables and pretty low protein intake, some of them had high fat, especially Italy and Greece (obviously from olive oil), with the city in Italy also eating quite a bit of cheese, though not quite as much fat as is required for Keto (assuming Keto is a good, long-term lifestyle).
Some things Keto and the Blue Zone diet have in common are caloric restriction, intermittent fasting, developing a healthy relationship with food, and a holistic approach to health. They both talk about moderate exercise versus “chronic” exercising (I might be guilty of this). However, the Blue Zone diet emphasizes community and environment more than individual responsibility, going so far as to say that if you are overweight, it is not your fault.
After reading this as well as Mark Sisson’s book, I am making some modifications to my lifestyle. Both are good reads and contain a lot of wisdom (as well as common sense) on being healthy.
Some things Keto and the Blue Zone diet have in common are caloric restriction, intermittent fasting, developing a healthy relationship with food, and a holistic approach to health. They both talk about moderate exercise versus “chronic” exercising (I might be guilty of this). However, the Blue Zone diet emphasizes community and environment more than individual responsibility, going so far as to say that if you are overweight, it is not your fault.
After reading this as well as Mark Sisson’s book, I am making some modifications to my lifestyle. Both are good reads and contain a lot of wisdom (as well as common sense) on being healthy.
Want to read
March 7, 2015I've just won a copy of this book from Goodreads Giveaways. After it's arrived at my doorstep and I've had a chance to read it and formulate my thoughts, I'll post an honest review. Stay tuned!
June 30, 2023
Before picking up this book, I thought the Blue Zones Solution would basically be a diet, but it was so much more than that. It’s a lifestyle! People who live in the blue zones have a better quality of health and life for longer - they don’t try to live to be 100, they just do! And many are happy and healthy and loving life still!
I loved the way this book was set up. It goes through each of the blue zones and how they vary - foods, communities, culture, sleep, activity, family/friends, and the day-to-day! They started small Blue Zone projects in cities in the US and walked you through what that looks like which gave insight on how you can implement.
Things like gardening, walking moais (a close knit group that becomes like family), being involved in a faith community, small normal movements throughout the day instead of traditional exercising, and daily meal schedules were just a few of the things that contributed to the health and happy lives of people in the Blue Zones that surprised me.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book!! I marked it up and have started trying different things. Such an excellent read! I look forward to more from Dan Buettner as he continues his work and research!
The back is filled with tons of recipes to help use the foods that nourish your body!
I loved the way this book was set up. It goes through each of the blue zones and how they vary - foods, communities, culture, sleep, activity, family/friends, and the day-to-day! They started small Blue Zone projects in cities in the US and walked you through what that looks like which gave insight on how you can implement.
Things like gardening, walking moais (a close knit group that becomes like family), being involved in a faith community, small normal movements throughout the day instead of traditional exercising, and daily meal schedules were just a few of the things that contributed to the health and happy lives of people in the Blue Zones that surprised me.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book!! I marked it up and have started trying different things. Such an excellent read! I look forward to more from Dan Buettner as he continues his work and research!
The back is filled with tons of recipes to help use the foods that nourish your body!
March 14, 2019
The first half of this book was a 5-star read for me. I loved when the author took us on journeys to visit someone in each of the five Blue Zones, the areas in the world with the highest concentrations of 100 year old citizens. Their stories were intriguing & filled with good advice on healthy living. The second half of the book was important with practical suggestions but got a little dry.
I’m excited about the 77 Blue Zone recipes at the end of the book. I’m so excited, in fact, that I ordered a copy of this book for myself. (I originally listened to the audiobook version from my local library.) I want to have these healthy recipes on hand and hopefully begin incorporating them into family meals several times per week.
I’m excited about the 77 Blue Zone recipes at the end of the book. I’m so excited, in fact, that I ordered a copy of this book for myself. (I originally listened to the audiobook version from my local library.) I want to have these healthy recipes on hand and hopefully begin incorporating them into family meals several times per week.
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April 26, 2020I was pretty excited and then pretty disappointed with this book.
If you have read one of the the other blue zone books that describes each of the blue zones then you can skip the first third of this book.
The second third I was most interested in, because it purports to turn several US cities into more-blue-like places. While it highlights some wins I was disappointed that while claiming to focus on environmental issues (lack of walkability, stress, diets, social connection) there was so much missing (food deserts, poverty, housing, lack of health insurance, race) so the people who got the money to make changes were those who had the buyin already. I know this are all complicated and difficult problems but there is a reason the social determinants of health is so important. If the book had focused on this middle section it would be much more useful. I firmly believe environment is much more important for healthy communities than bitching about our current poor diets.
The last third was recipes, which - there is a blue zone cookbook if I cared I'd buy that AND seem to completely undermine Buettner's statement that US people are shorter-lived/more unhealthy because of a lack of willpower and discipline in terms of food and exercise. Instead of a book that gives a playbook for how to engage change in communities (have a ton of ambassadors already willing to invest in helping make change?) Buettner gives individual solutions. My cynical take is that he prefers to sell those community-wide solutions as a consultant.
If you have read one of the the other blue zone books that describes each of the blue zones then you can skip the first third of this book.
The second third I was most interested in, because it purports to turn several US cities into more-blue-like places. While it highlights some wins I was disappointed that while claiming to focus on environmental issues (lack of walkability, stress, diets, social connection) there was so much missing (food deserts, poverty, housing, lack of health insurance, race) so the people who got the money to make changes were those who had the buyin already. I know this are all complicated and difficult problems but there is a reason the social determinants of health is so important. If the book had focused on this middle section it would be much more useful. I firmly believe environment is much more important for healthy communities than bitching about our current poor diets.
The last third was recipes, which - there is a blue zone cookbook if I cared I'd buy that AND seem to completely undermine Buettner's statement that US people are shorter-lived/more unhealthy because of a lack of willpower and discipline in terms of food and exercise. Instead of a book that gives a playbook for how to engage change in communities (have a ton of ambassadors already willing to invest in helping make change?) Buettner gives individual solutions. My cynical take is that he prefers to sell those community-wide solutions as a consultant.
December 9, 2015
Much more of a diet/health book than the first Blue Zones book. I found this one to be a bit peachier than the older Blue Zones book, but that is to be expected in a health book. Generally, most of the info here is also in the first book with the exception of the recipes - which I haven't tried yet :)
Basically: Eat mostly vegetarian (Beans4LYFE!), move in a natural way throughout your day, surround yourself with good people, and find a purpose in life.
Basically: Eat mostly vegetarian (Beans4LYFE!), move in a natural way throughout your day, surround yourself with good people, and find a purpose in life.
June 15, 2015
In addition to the research and justification for the eating habits espoused by this book, there is a helpful list of foods that are healthy and a (very short) list of foods never to eat. Unfortunately, this book - like so many diet books - succumbs to the temptation to use some fairly esoteric ingredients, which removes it from the reality of most of our cooking days.
May 20, 2020
This is a fascinating very accessible book documenting great research by a multidisciplinary team of experts. They set out to discover why there are only a few diverse places in the world where the population is extremely healthy and has a remarkable number of active folk living well over a hundred years. These are termed the Blue Zones And include: Okinawa, Japan, Sardinia, Greece and Lima Linda in California. What do these places have in common?
The team set out to analyze this and then to educate folk in similar places in the USA in an endeavor to replicate and develop new US Blue Zones. They got buy in to this program by identifying community leaders who would collaborate to
change the environment, lifestyle shopping habits and diets of less healthy or unhealthy US communities to develop Blue Zones in such diverse chosen places as the Beach areas South of Los Angeles, California and towns in Iowa and Massachusetts. They identified key factors of importance: Firstly gentle daily exercise such as walking to work and doing daily chores, secondly belonging to a supportive group of close friends and a religious or faith community. Important too is having a sense of community and belonging.
Interestingly all the Blue Zones shared a similar diet rich in vegetables, usually home grown, and particularly included pulses such as lentils and beans with small helpings. Breakfast was the largest meal of the day followed by lunch and a very small supper. In contrast to the average US family who eat huge meals and main meal at night. They managed very gently but dramatically to change lifestyles with great health benefits which the reader can implement. The book comes with 77 easy delicious recipes to transform your diet. I greatly recommend this book.
The team set out to analyze this and then to educate folk in similar places in the USA in an endeavor to replicate and develop new US Blue Zones. They got buy in to this program by identifying community leaders who would collaborate to
change the environment, lifestyle shopping habits and diets of less healthy or unhealthy US communities to develop Blue Zones in such diverse chosen places as the Beach areas South of Los Angeles, California and towns in Iowa and Massachusetts. They identified key factors of importance: Firstly gentle daily exercise such as walking to work and doing daily chores, secondly belonging to a supportive group of close friends and a religious or faith community. Important too is having a sense of community and belonging.
Interestingly all the Blue Zones shared a similar diet rich in vegetables, usually home grown, and particularly included pulses such as lentils and beans with small helpings. Breakfast was the largest meal of the day followed by lunch and a very small supper. In contrast to the average US family who eat huge meals and main meal at night. They managed very gently but dramatically to change lifestyles with great health benefits which the reader can implement. The book comes with 77 easy delicious recipes to transform your diet. I greatly recommend this book.
May 30, 2021
great resource.
I'm curious how this book compares to "nutrition and physical degeneration" by dr. weston price.
I'm curious how this book compares to "nutrition and physical degeneration" by dr. weston price.
March 1, 2020
I’m giving this 4 stars, not based on content because I did buy the second edition on life lessons for my friends, but because I enjoyed consuming the information in podcast format. It was much more interesting being told than being read.
February 3, 2022
Apesar de ser um livro interessante, estava à espera que aprofundasse um pouco melhor a alimentação das zonas azuis.
No fim do livro tem várias receitas, mas acho que ficaria melhor num livro específico para receitas.
No entanto, tem muitas dicas para uma longevidade não só a nível de alimentação como mental.
No fim do livro tem várias receitas, mas acho que ficaria melhor num livro específico para receitas.
No entanto, tem muitas dicas para uma longevidade não só a nível de alimentação como mental.
June 5, 2018
Blue Zones are the places in the world where people live healthfully well into old age, many over 100 years old. They have almost non-existent rates of cancer, heart disease, dementia, all the diseases that impact our quality of life and often kill us. Buettner traveled to these places and studied the oldest residents. There are 2 books. One is “The Blue Zones,” which goes into greater detail about each Blue Zone and the other is this one, “The Blue Zones Solution,” which recaps these details and goes on to document creating Blue Zones in cities in the U.S. It’s interesting to see how people were able to change their health by making certain changes in diet and lifestyle. This book also contains recipes including some of the healthiest foods. I think we can learn from the world’s oldest healthy people. They’re obviously doing something right. I want to have a good quality of life as I age. I highly recommend this book.
February 12, 2025
This book was VERY good. Learned lots, will be changing not only my eating habits but also how I eat !!! Already convinced my friends to read. Hi jordan
March 21, 2020
Thought provoking for sure. However, the author frequently mentioned ‘studies’ that don’t seem to have a scientific basis just in order for us to trust him. There’s a lot to be said for what he’s trying to do, as I live in one of the communities that he mentions in the book. I liked that he talked about not having to necessarily make conscious healthy changes when your environment around you supports you in your efforts to eat well and exercise
August 13, 2020
Very nice summary and details from the blue-zones.
Reading through this reminded me of my very old blog post
https://iwritewhatilikelove.tumblr.co...
it's not just about sustainability, it was also healthy choice. I'm sad that we compromised all these good things for the sake of convenience and social status :/
let's all go back to the old way of living!
Reading through this reminded me of my very old blog post
https://iwritewhatilikelove.tumblr.co...
it's not just about sustainability, it was also healthy choice. I'm sad that we compromised all these good things for the sake of convenience and social status :/
let's all go back to the old way of living!
October 22, 2022
Apoiado em bases científicas este livro está cheio de sugestões para melhorar os hábitos de vida a fim de se alcançar uma vida mais longa com saúde. Gostei muito.
July 9, 2019
This is one of several books written by Buettner that draw on information he compiled from the "blue zones" the name given to areas with a high concentration of centarians.
He starts the book with a brief history of the various cultures associated with longevity and then attempts to identify common overlapping themes for the purpose of making recommendations to the masses. He ends with some "blue zone" inspired recipes, just in case he's done his job and leaves the reader inspired.
From eating lots of beans to having a strong sense of community to being generally active thanks to a lack of modern conveniences to treating meat as a side dish or fare reserved for special occasions, Buettner's findings support the notion that health is not only a functi0n of what we eat, but is also impacted by our social connections, close relationships, daily activities, and sense of purpose among other things.
Though I enjoyed reading, there wasn't anything particularly groundbreaking here, and probably why I think it would be a great book for the novice who simply wants to learn more about longevity promoting lifestyle choices.
He starts the book with a brief history of the various cultures associated with longevity and then attempts to identify common overlapping themes for the purpose of making recommendations to the masses. He ends with some "blue zone" inspired recipes, just in case he's done his job and leaves the reader inspired.
From eating lots of beans to having a strong sense of community to being generally active thanks to a lack of modern conveniences to treating meat as a side dish or fare reserved for special occasions, Buettner's findings support the notion that health is not only a functi0n of what we eat, but is also impacted by our social connections, close relationships, daily activities, and sense of purpose among other things.
Though I enjoyed reading, there wasn't anything particularly groundbreaking here, and probably why I think it would be a great book for the novice who simply wants to learn more about longevity promoting lifestyle choices.
December 27, 2020
The author spent more than a decade, ".... traveling the world, meeting people who actually enjoyed happy, healthy lives all the way to 100 - people who lived in areas we call the Blue Zones."
This book is in 3 parts.
In Part 1, the author takes the reader to the five Blue Zones and introduces you to the people, their culture and lifestyle as well as their eating habits. And as Mr. Buettner states: "Remarkably, no matter where I found long-lived populations, I found similar habits and practices at work." This research revealed nine common denominators; the "Power Nine."
In Part 2, the author relates stories of several communities that used the information obtained from the Blue Zone Project to create their own Blue Zone region. Thus the Blue Zones makeover project began.
Part 3 is about bringing the lessons of Blue Zones eating into your own home. "No one person can create a Blue Zone, of course, but one person - one family or one household - can take first steps in their own life by making small changes in what they eat and how they eat it."
The book also includes several recipes to try.
This book is in 3 parts.
In Part 1, the author takes the reader to the five Blue Zones and introduces you to the people, their culture and lifestyle as well as their eating habits. And as Mr. Buettner states: "Remarkably, no matter where I found long-lived populations, I found similar habits and practices at work." This research revealed nine common denominators; the "Power Nine."
In Part 2, the author relates stories of several communities that used the information obtained from the Blue Zone Project to create their own Blue Zone region. Thus the Blue Zones makeover project began.
Part 3 is about bringing the lessons of Blue Zones eating into your own home. "No one person can create a Blue Zone, of course, but one person - one family or one household - can take first steps in their own life by making small changes in what they eat and how they eat it."
The book also includes several recipes to try.
September 9, 2018
Mix one part cookbook and one part biography with one part National Geographic advertisement, and you'll get this Blue Zones book. With this in mind, it's hard to determine if a book is the right format.
Yet author Buettner tries to provide value, finding similar patterns between cherry-picked centenarian so we Western readers can see what's wrong with our lifestyle choices. Buettner admits his research is spotty, due in part to language barriers and contradictory advice. But at the same time, there's some good, tangible examples to nudge us in the right direction, like walking school buses and community gardens.
Is it stuff I've heard before? Largely, yes. But that doesn't mean it's not useful. I wish America treated good food as part of a good life. Exposure to affordable, clean food is a challenge for so many communities. At least Buettner tries to show creating a Blue Zone starts small. I want to live well, and here's one way to start. I'll let you know if I live to 100, the ultimate goal of this book. Just give me 75 years.
Yet author Buettner tries to provide value, finding similar patterns between cherry-picked centenarian so we Western readers can see what's wrong with our lifestyle choices. Buettner admits his research is spotty, due in part to language barriers and contradictory advice. But at the same time, there's some good, tangible examples to nudge us in the right direction, like walking school buses and community gardens.
Is it stuff I've heard before? Largely, yes. But that doesn't mean it's not useful. I wish America treated good food as part of a good life. Exposure to affordable, clean food is a challenge for so many communities. At least Buettner tries to show creating a Blue Zone starts small. I want to live well, and here's one way to start. I'll let you know if I live to 100, the ultimate goal of this book. Just give me 75 years.
December 5, 2020
I highlighted the helpful tips. Some things I am fully aware of after reading tons of books in the past and present. There was a doctor on 700 club 10+ years ago that spoke about eat like a king for breakfast, prince for lunch and pauper for dinner. I am still working on this method. At home, like many books have stated, eat in front of TV or watching movies, snack thoughtlessly and can take in too much calories or food intake. I love breakfast. Eat like a queen, princess, then peasant.
One point to eat twice a day. I may try this one. So many reads want you to eat more with smaller portions, but this advise to eat less, on smaller dishes, drink at least 7 glasses of water, and try to eat twice a day.
The recipes, not interested, I do like baked sweet potato and most purple sweet potatoes are not tasty.
I did like the part on movement all the time. Cooking. Preparing food or prepping, walking, etc. Not so focused on 90 minute workouts like I used to. Just keep moving.
Own a copy.
One point to eat twice a day. I may try this one. So many reads want you to eat more with smaller portions, but this advise to eat less, on smaller dishes, drink at least 7 glasses of water, and try to eat twice a day.
The recipes, not interested, I do like baked sweet potato and most purple sweet potatoes are not tasty.
I did like the part on movement all the time. Cooking. Preparing food or prepping, walking, etc. Not so focused on 90 minute workouts like I used to. Just keep moving.
Own a copy.
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