Until about a week ago, I was confused. I like to think of myself as a relatively healthy eater, but over the past few years I felt like I never knew what was good and what was bad. No sooner did I follow one philosophy then it would get shot down as unhealthy or unsustainable. I have been gluten free, paleo, vegetarian, Whole30, cleansing, Atkins, Fit For Life, South Beach and many more! It came down to one thing, I simply didn’t know who to believe anymore—until a week ago. 

I was walking through Barnes & Noble and a beautiful book cover caught my eye. The Blue Zones Kitchen by Dan Buettner was created in conjunction with National Geographic. The first line says it all, “If you want to live to a healthy 100 then eat like healthy people who have lived to 100.” He identified the places around the world where people live the longest and they are: Sardinia, Okinawa, Ikaria, Nicoya, and Loma Linda. This was proof, right?

Here is what I learned: all of these areas eat some fish and very little meat, but that wasn’t the big takeaway for me. They walk a lot. They’re hard-working. They engage with their community face to face. They don’t have gadgets, cell phones or FB. Their lives are filled with purpose from age 10-100. They eat real food and they take the time to enjoy that food as well as their family and friends. Now that’s worth living to 100 for. Spending each day with family, friends, eating good food, working hard, walking a lot, forget the phone, and the Sardinians want me to have some wine too! That’s a good life! I’m in! You?

With Gratitude,
Beth

https://www.bluezones.com/live-longer-better/#section-1