People who live in so-called ‘Blue Zone’ areas tend to enjoy longer and healthier lives. What can we learn from people living in such areas to improve the longevity and health of our own lives?
What are Blue Zone areas?
Blue Zone areas are those where people live in good health well into their 90s and even 100s. Such areas include Okinawa, Sardinia, and the island of Ikaria in Greece. Although these areas do not necessarily share the same climate, they have other commonalities that are key to a long and healthy life.
What are the Characteristics of Blue Zone Areas
Studies have found that people living in these communities share a number of lifestyle characteristics. For one, they enjoy a healthy diet, often made up of plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, whole-grains, limited amounts of meat, and few processed foods. People living in these areas all have strong social connections and also tend to have a more natural approach to exercise, which means doing plenty of physical-based activities without the formal structure of exercise. This includes walking instead of driving, gardening, and doing manual domestic tasks themselves. Another key characteristic shared by all these communities is that people have a strong sense of purpose. That might be looking after grandchildren or volunteering in the community.
What can we do with this information?
The good news is there’s no need to learn Greek and move to Ikaria – you can simply try to integrate these characteristics into your own lifestyle. Care workers can also help clients live healthier and longer lives by integrating such practices, whether it’s supporting them in taking on a new project or helping them with the gardening. Understanding how to apply the concepts of Blue Zone living into your work can set you up to be a great care assistant. To find care assistant jobs Wicklow, head to https://www.caremark.ie/job-opportunities/care-assistant-jobs-wicklow.
Whether it’s seeing friends, gardening, eating more vegetables, or finding purpose, emulating the lifestyle of people living in Blue Zones may well be the key to longer and healthier lives.