Blue zones locations

Blue zones locations are Okinawa Prefecture (Japan), Ikaria Island (Greece), Loma Linda (the USA), Sardinia (Italy) and Nicoya Peninsula (Costa Rica).

Japan blue zone:

Okinawa is an island located halfway between Taiwan and the southern coast of Japan. It boasts high lifespans, with double the number of centenarians as the rest of the country. 

"Moai", the tradition of forming strong social networks among friends and neighbours, provides invaluable financial and emotional support in times of need — such bonds are formed as young as five.

Okinawans also believe in "ikigai", which means having a defined sense of purpose in life. The concept of retirement is foreign, with most people continuing to do some form of daily manual work, such as gardening, well into their later years.

Countries with highest life expectancy

The graph below shows the average life expectancy for men and women in each blue zone country according to Worldometer:

Blue zone Costa Rica:

Nicoya is a seventy-five-mile-long peninsula off Costa Rica that easily beats its North American counterparts in human longevity. Like many other "blue zone" areas, spirituality and strong family ties are regarded highly in Nicoyan culture. 

"Plan de Vida", which translates as "a reason to live", encourages Nicoyan elders to maintain a positive outlook and an active lifestyle. The traditional Mesoamerican diet includes few processed foods, focusing on antioxidant-rich tropical fruit and plenty of beans, corn and squash.

Another secret to Nicoya's longevity lies in its calcium-rich water, which helps ward off heart disease and promotes strong bones.

Blue zone USA:

As the only city on the list, Loma Linda, California, is unique among blue zone regions. Many point to the nine-thousand-strong Seventh-day Adventist community as why the city outlives the average American by ten years. Indeed, like other blue zone areas, Seventh-day Adventists follow a largely vegetarian diet and prioritise strong social ties.

 Adventists participate in daily activities, such as long group walks, which promote low-intensity workouts and foster bonds among others.

A typical Loma Linda diet consists of roughly 33% vegetables, 27% fruits, 12% legumes and soy and 10% dairy. Meat and Poultry make up only 4%, with added sugar just 1%.

Blue zone in Greece:

Icaria is a small Greek island with less than nine thousand population. Thanks to factors such as culture, diet, lifestyle, and perspective, one out of every three residents reaches the age of ninety or more!

Ikarians' social, healthy way of life includes fun-filled, late-night games of dominoes and appreciation of the island's beautiful terrain, ideal for hiking, water sports, and cycling. The slow way of life, known as "siga-siga," helps reduce stress and boost overall well-being via midafternoon breaks and glasses of strong red wine in the evenings.

Most follow a Mediterranean diet, which includes locally sourced fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, potatoes, and plenty of olive oil.

Italy blue zone:

A cluster of villages on the Italian island of Sardinia boasts the longest-living men in the world. Thanks to their isolated location, inhabitants have managed to stick to a traditional and healthy way of life for centuries.

Crucially, residents stay connected to their friends and families, lowering depression and stress. The communities socialise and drink moderate amounts of wine together, and grandparents play a role in children's upbringings, offering wisdom and support.

The Sardinian diet is almost exclusively plant-based, consisting of whole-grain bread, beans, home-grown vegetables and fruits. Meat is considered rare and is reserved for Sundays and special occasions such as Easter and Christmas.

What country has the healthiest diet?

Some countries with the healthiest diets are Japan, Spain, Greece, Italy and South Korea. However, deciding what country's diet is the best depends on the desired outcome and the criteria used.

• The Mediterranean: in countries like Greece, Italy, and Spain, people consume lots of fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and olive oil, plus a moderate and occasional selection of fish, dairy, red meat, and sugar. Studies have shown a link to numerous health benefits, including reduced heart disease and stroke risk.
• Japan: the traditional Japanese diet includes plenty of fresh fish, particularly fatty fish rich in omega-3, vegetables, tofu and seaweed. Portions are often smaller than those in Western diets, which may contribute to lower levels of obesity and related diseases.
• South Korea: traditional Korean cuisine, known as "hansik", mainly consists of tofu, rice, vegetables, small amounts of meat and fermented foods like kimchi. It's rich in saturated fats and whole grains, includes limited processed foods, and is often spicy, thanks to ingredients like gochujang, a red chilli paste.

Blue zone diet guidelines

Below is a chart showing the recommended percentages of carbohydrates, healthy fats and proteins you should have in your diet to live longer.

Source: Blue Zones