Ever since drinking, smoking, and fast food restaurants have boomed in the United States, the economy has fed off of our cravings and continues to give us more.

Today, the health of citizens in America has dropped tremendously. Not just with physical health, but mental too.

 The most common known diseases in America are obesity, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, substance abuse, depression, anxiety and the list can go on and on. 

There have been places found around the world that are better, healthier areas where people live or can live in. These places are called Blue Zones. 

According Michel Poulain and Anne Herm from the Estonian Institute for Population Studies and Gianni Pes from the Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, “The term of ‘blue zone’ (BZ) given to these areas is defined as a limited region where the population shares a common lifestyle and environment and whose exceptional longevity has been accurately verified.” 

Blue Zones were first discovered and developed by researchers, Dan Buettner and Giovanni Pes back in the 2000s when they were studying longevity in Sardinia, first introducing the term.

Sardinia, Italy, Okinawa, Japan, Nicoya, Costa Rica, and Ikaria, Greece are the Blue Zones of the world. 

In Sardinia, Italy, the Sardinian centenarians base their diets off eating lean and plant-based foods that are accented with meat.

 They eat things like whole-grain bread, beans, garden vegetables and fruits. In other parts they use mastic oil, a 100% natural-based oil resin that comes from a mastic tree.

Sardinians also have strong family values, making sure every family member gets the care they need. This is proved that living in strong, healthy families lowers the rates of depression, suicide and stress.

 Sardinian shepherds walk five miles or more a day, providing them with all the cardiovascular benefits to have a positive impact on muscle and bone metabolism.

Lastly, not as appealing as the rest of their lifestyle, they drink goat’s milk because it can protect them against inflammatory diseases of aging like heart disease or Alzheimer’s. 

In Okinawa, Japan, once called the land of immortals, is known to be the only place where women live longer than other women throughout the world. The Okinawans are also shown to have less cancer, heart disease and dementia than Americans. 

Here’s their secret: strong dedication to friends and family and a sense of purpose in life, what they call “moai” and “ikigai.”

Okinawans also rely on a plant-based diet, their meals consisting of stir-fried vegetables, rich soy foods, sweet potatoes, and tofu because they are high in nutrients and low in calories. 

 A part of Costa Rica, Nicoya, focuses on pushing towards a positive outlook for elders to keep them active. They call this “plan de vida,” or reason to live.

Nicoyas’ water has the highest calcium content in the country, causing lower risks with heart disease, having stronger bones and fewer hip fractures. 

Different from the other countries mentioned, Nicoyans choose to eat lighter dinners, eating a traditional Mesoamerican diet with squash, corn, and beans. 

Some of modern Nicoyan connect to the indigenous Chorotega and their traditions have enabled them to remain free from stress.

Finally from the tiny island of Ikaria, Greece, Ikarians are almost entirely free from dementia and the other chronic diseases, and one in three make it to their 90s. 

Similar to Italy’s lifestyle, they also choose to drink goat’s milk over cow milk. 

Occasionally, they choose to fast as well. 

Not like any of the other countries, Ikarians squeeze nap times into their schedules and even drink herbal teas like wild rosemary, sage, and oregano, keeping their blood pressures in tact. 

As Americans, we can learn a lot from these other countries on how we could live happier and healthier lives. From using their Mediterranean-style diets, getting outside more to soak up the sun, being more active and even trying goat’s milk!