C
osta Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, Italy’s Sardinia region, the Greek island of Ikaria. At rst take, these places may not seem to have much in common, beyond pristine, spectacular scenery. But in fact, they are among several regions in the world that boast an unusually high number of centenarians and hale, hearty folks who live longer than average and have a better quality of life.
Dubbed blue zones – a term coined by two demographic researchers studying the lifespan of people in a Sardinian province – these locations came under the spotlight as the topic of explorer and author Dan Buettner’s two best-selling books. The result of a collaboration with the National Geographic Society and a group of longevity researchers in 2004, the books detail the team’s attempt to discern the reasons behind the long – and largely happy – lives of blue-zone inhabitants.
What they found across the board: it all boils down to the basics of a simple, healthy lifestyle. Dan attributes their longevity to plantbased diets, regular physical activity woven into daily life (think gardening and walks to the shops), strong social networks and a sense of purpose. Together, these factors enable many of them to not only live longer, but also stay spry and mentally sharp till the end.
This idea of having a long life, not through medicine or complicated means but by doing the simple things that maintain health, has prompted many to rethink their approach towards growing old. It has also attracted fans and proponents; among them is French beauty house Chanel.
Christian Mahe, the brand’s senior vice-president of research and technology, says: “Chanel Research was one of the rst cosmetic centres to create a Human Sciences division and develop a holistic approach to beauty. This gave a new direction to our studies on ageing and led us to focus on longevity. We do not dene