There are only 5 blue zones in the world, including our splendid Sardinia, the island of centenarians, a true earthly paradise of longevity!

What are blue zones?

The "blue zones" are geographical areas of the world where life expectancy is significantly higher than the global average. The concept originated when scholars Gianni Pes and Michel Poulain published their demographic study on human longevity in Experimental Gerontology. The study revealed that the province of Nuoro, in Sardinia, is the area with the highest concentration of centenarians in the world. To continue their work, the scholars drew a series of concentric blue circles on the map indicating the areas with the highest longevity, hence the term "blue zone."

Where are the "blue zones"?

• Sardinia, Italy. Particularly in the province of Nuoro, the mountainous villages of the Barbagia sub-region of Ogliastra and Barbagia di Ollolai. A group of demographers identified a longevity hotspot in inland mountain villages where men reach 100 years of age with extraordinary frequency.
• Okinawa Island, Japan. A group of individuals who were recognized as among the longest-lived people ever to live in the world was examined here.
• Loma Linda, California. Researchers studied a community of Seventh-day Adventist Christians whose members are among the longest-lived in all of North America.
• Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica. The peninsula has been the subject of longevity research since January 2007.
• Icaria, Greece. In April 2009, a study conducted on the island of Icaria discovered the highest percentage of nonagenarians on the planet. Almost one in three inhabitants of the island reaches 90 years of age.

The longest-lived towns in Sardinia

Ogliastra is the area with the highest concentration of male centenarians. In Ogliastra, the towns with a high number of centenarians located in the "blue zones" are: Strisaili, Arzana, Talana, Baunei, Urzulei, and Triei. In the Province of Nuoro, the towns identified in the blue zone are Tiana, Ovodda, Ollolai, Gavoi, Fonni, Mamoiada, Orgosolo, Oliena.

All of them are part of Barbagia di Ollolai. In the Province of South Sardinia, however, the blue zone is found in only one town, Seulo. The capital of the homonymous Sardinian sub-region of Barbagia di Seùlo, the latter has recorded 20 centenarians in the last 20 years, confirming itself as the "longest-lived town in the world."

Common habits among centenarians in blue zones

Data from the longest-lived people have been examined to find common habits among these distant and diverse populations, in order to get at least an approximate idea of what habits are beneficial for our health. From a genetic point of view, these populations are very different, so it is not an inherited factor. The causes are due to the environment, diet, and lifestyle.
The main similarities highlighted are:

• Family is very important; having a precise role helps people feel responsible for others. Therefore, the satisfaction of helping and being helped in times of need can make us feel happier and less worried.
• Little stress, the people in question tend to share a happy and satisfying life, even in small things. It's okay to worry about important things, unexpected events that unfortunately happen to everyone, but we must face them with the awareness that sometimes we can do nothing; certain unpleasant events can help us. So when things are going well, and health and primary needs are met, there's no point in complaining for futile reasons; on the contrary, we should be grateful for what we have.
• No smoking. Very little or no smoking. As one can easily understand, among the centenarians in blue zones, only a few smoke or have smoked in the past, but even in these cases, it was not a constant vice, but an occasional practice. Therefore, smoking is highly discouraged!
• On the island of Okinawa, meditation is widely practiced, while in others, a strong spirituality among centenarians has been revealed.
• Another common characteristic among centenarians is physical activity. Not practiced as a sport but dictated by daily habits, walking to go grocery shopping or to visit a friend or relative. An early morning or sunset walk, to admire the splendid colors that nature offers us and immerse oneself in it. Also, working the land to grow some products for the table and thus we connect to the last point.
• Diet is another fundamental factor. Centenarians predominantly consume natural products without preservatives and additives and drink pure water throughout the day. A diet rich in fiber, with modest amounts of carbohydrates, and little meat is recommended. But since the zones are very different, let's look at the foods concerning the blue zones of Sardinia in more detail.

The diet of centenarians in Sardinia

• Legumes, whole grains, fresh vegetables, and fruit are among the most important elements because there's no need to be as careful not to overdo it as with others; with these, you can let go and consume a little more.
• Local wine, one or at most two glasses a day, preferably with company. Cannonau, Vermentino, Vernaccia, and Malvasia are among the most common.
• Unlike the island of Okinawa, where fresh fish is consumed almost daily, in Sardinia, it is consumed more sporadically.
• Cheese is omnipresent in Sardinia, even among centenarians, it is one of the most consumed typical Sardinian products, at least once every two/three days. Sardinian Pecorino is excellent, and goat cheese is even better with its unique and healthy characteristics.
• Carbohydrates are a very important source of energy for the body. They are mainly consumed through pasta and bread. Obviously, malloreddus, fregola, and pane carasau are the main foods consumed, which are produced with local durum wheat. I want to emphasize that the name of the wheat variety is not as important – there are many more or less known varieties; for marketing purposes, some names have generated more interest – but the important factor is the quality of the wheat, not the name. The type of cultivation, first and foremost, therefore the absence of contaminants, and it is also better for the semolina to be produced from multiple varieties of local durum wheat to obtain a more complete product.

A Paradise Island

Sardinia has become even more famous and discussed worldwide after these studies. A paradisiacal land always known for its beautiful beaches and delicious food. Then, increasingly appreciated for its characteristic and historically important hinterland. Recently, it was also featured in a Netflix episode with the famous Zac Efron, precisely about blue zones and centenarians.
Our island is increasingly in the spotlight; after all, we all want to live a long and healthy life. Studying the blue zones where centenarians are most concentrated can certainly help give us some guidelines to follow.

A happy life

It is very important to "slow down" and enjoy life without too many complications. Be with company, eat the most natural foods possible, and don't get completely full. Have a more substantial breakfast and prioritize calorie intake until midday and less in the evening.
Of course, you can also let loose sometimes, especially on holidays with friends and relatives. With the right balance, after all, you have to enjoy life and laugh, laugh, and laugh!!

A small curiosity

At Colline del Vento, we love culture... and we discovered, and therefore invite you to see, an interesting photographic and editorial project by Sardinian photographer Luigi Corda, in which he immortalized 100 centenarians of Sardinia.