What’s Loma Linda, CA, Got the Rest of Us Don’t?
Brothers Nick and Dan Buettner wanted to know what it takes to live a long, healthy and happy life. Sure, they know that eating right, exercising, and taking your meds as prescribed are part of the answer. But not the whole answer. So they decided to visit those communities around the world with the longest life expectancies, highest number of people over 100 years old and lowest rates of disease. And see what they could learn from them.
The top five cities they came up with:
What, if any, qualities did these cities have in common? Their research showed that each shared nine particular qualities, despite their differences in geography, climate and culture.
As reported in a recent edition of Well+Good, an online lifestyle and news publication focused on the wellness scene, here’s what the brothers found:
1) Each community was built so people can walk and bike to most places.
2) Every person has a strong sense of their place in and contributions to their community.
3) They followed a largely Mediterranean-type, plant-based diet, eating small portions of meat only about four times a month.
4) They simply eat less, taking in fewer calories.
5) They drink red wine (with lots of antioxidants).
6) They take time for themselves and have reduced stress levels.
7) All are faith-based communities that help create purpose, connection and a sense of fulfillment.
8) They are all very family-oriented with strong connections to loved ones.
9) They have friends they can call on for help and support.
I don’t know if or how their findings changed the brothers’ lives, but the lessons seem pretty clear.
(Coincidentally, the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that life expectancy in the U.S. is declining for the first time in nearly 20 years – not because we’re not spending enough, but as an Academy of Medicine study estimates, 30 percent of what we spend on health care is wasted on unneeded services, inefficient delivery, high prices, high administrative costs, and fraud.)
Brothers Nick and Dan Buettner wanted to know what it takes to live a long, healthy and happy life. Sure, they know that eating right, exercising, and taking your meds as prescribed are part of the answer. But not the whole answer. So they decided to visit those communities around the world with the longest life expectancies, highest number of people over 100 years old and lowest rates of disease. And see what they could learn from them.
The top five cities they came up with:
- Okinawa, Japan
- Sardinia, Italy
- Nicoya, Costa Rica
- Icaria, Greece
- Loma Linda, CA
What, if any, qualities did these cities have in common? Their research showed that each shared nine particular qualities, despite their differences in geography, climate and culture.
As reported in a recent edition of Well+Good, an online lifestyle and news publication focused on the wellness scene, here’s what the brothers found:
1) Each community was built so people can walk and bike to most places.
2) Every person has a strong sense of their place in and contributions to their community.
3) They followed a largely Mediterranean-type, plant-based diet, eating small portions of meat only about four times a month.
4) They simply eat less, taking in fewer calories.
5) They drink red wine (with lots of antioxidants).
6) They take time for themselves and have reduced stress levels.
7) All are faith-based communities that help create purpose, connection and a sense of fulfillment.
8) They are all very family-oriented with strong connections to loved ones.
9) They have friends they can call on for help and support.
I don’t know if or how their findings changed the brothers’ lives, but the lessons seem pretty clear.
(Coincidentally, the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that life expectancy in the U.S. is declining for the first time in nearly 20 years – not because we’re not spending enough, but as an Academy of Medicine study estimates, 30 percent of what we spend on health care is wasted on unneeded services, inefficient delivery, high prices, high administrative costs, and fraud.)