Singapore Named ‘Blue Zone 2.0’ in ‘Dwell to 100’

The sequence, premiering August 30, places faces and names to the longevity insights round consuming, train, sleep, and socializing that Buettner has shared over time, following his conversations with residents in each Blue Zone, in addition to in Singapore, which Buettner calls a “Blue Zone 2.0:” a spot the place the federal government has instituted insurance policies designed explicitly to advertise longevity—versus one the place folks have lengthy embraced cultural habits that simply so occur to assist wholesome growing older (extra on that under).

Spotlighted within the sequence are the residents of Okinawa, who usually get pleasure from plant-focused meals, and of Sardinia, who scale near-vertical hills on every day walks and at all times find time for dinner with household and mates, in addition to the locals of the Nicoyan peninsula, who’re identified to embrace a plan de vida, or specific life function, as their north star. One other episode takes Buettner to apiaries in Ikaria; and one other takes him to the pickleball courts, kitchens, and worship teams of residents of Loma Linda. It is not till the final installment of the sequence that Buettner makes his method to Singapore, which he sees because the mannequin for creating extra Blue Zones by infrastructure and coverage.

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“The largest alternative with this documentary was to harness the entire scientific analysis that was finished on the Blue Zones and metabolize it into a stunning story,” says Buettner. He was thrilled to work with director Clay Jeter, who directed episodes of Chef’s Desk, to carry the folks of the Blue Zones to life.

“We discovered folks within the Blue Zones, and we distilled the science of why they’re making it to 100.” —Dan Buettner, longevity researcher

Buettner hopes that by getting to listen to instantly from the individuals who stay and breathe the rules of longevity on a day-to-day foundation, those that watch the sequence will higher perceive how and why they stay so lengthy, and really feel impressed to undertake comparable behaviors. “We discovered folks within the Blue Zones, and we distilled the science of why they’re making it to 100,” says Buettner. However the energy of the present is absolutely in its storytelling round that science. “One of the simplest ways to any person’s mind is thru their coronary heart and by telling lovely tales that transfer them emotionally,” he provides.

Why Singapore is deemed a “Blue Zone 2.0” within the new Dwell to 100 documentary sequence

In initially figuring out every of the 5 Blue Zones, Buettner discovered that they have been locations the place longevity-boosting habits have been handed down by generations and ingrained within the native tradition—locations the place the surroundings naturally nudges the individuals who stay there towards the actions that promote a protracted life. “The massive perception with the Blue Zones has been that longevity ensues over time,” says Buettner. “It isn’t one thing it’s important to attempt to persuade folks to pursue; relatively, it occurs the place the healthiest alternative is the best alternative.”

However within the sequence, Buettner reveals that Singapore has change into a long life sizzling spot in its personal proper by very completely different means—by proactive coverage modifications and funding in infrastructure that helps a wholesome life-style. “It isn’t the identical class as the unique Blue Zones, however what’s distinctive about [Singapore] is that they engineered a Blue Zone by shaping their surroundings so the wholesome alternative was not solely simple, however in some instances unavoidable,” says Buettner, who first started investigating Singapore in his reporting for a 2017 Nationwide Geographic story about happiness.

For a pair examples, Buettner factors out that Singapore’s authorities has applied restrictions on sugary drinks like soda and affords subsidies to meals companies for together with nutritious components like complete grains on their menus.

Singapore additionally has common well being care, the standard of which has been deemed the perfect in Asia by the Worldwide Commerce Administration. Medical services are additionally typically integrated proper into housing complexes, a lot of that are designed to recreate a kampung, or “village” in Malay, the place folks can simply co-mingle—one other longevity-boosting dynamic Buettner explores within the sequence. The federal government additionally affords credit of as much as $30,000 Singapore {dollars} (about $22,000) to folks shopping for properties with or close to their dad and mom or married kids to encourage familial assist.

Transportation and leisure infrastructure in Singapore has solely added to its longevity energy: Broadly out there and cheap public transit facilitates loads of on a regular basis strolling, and plenty of leisure parks—a lot of which supply government-sponsored train courses—make it simple and nice to spend ample time shifting your physique in contemporary air, says Buettner.

Taken collectively, these government-directed applications and insurance policies show {that a} Blue Zone is feasible to engineer from scratch, says Buettner, which has far-reaching implications for making longevity accessible to extra folks.

2 different key takeaways from Dwell to 100: Secrets and techniques of the Blue Zones

1. Romantic partnership is a recurrent function among the many longest-living folks

Buettner has lengthy espoused sturdy social ties as a key tenet of Blue Zones dwelling—however in filming the sequence, he discovered that romance, specifically, could also be an particularly vital piece of that. “Visiting Ikaria this time, I had a very large epiphany round love,” Buettner narrates within the sequence. “The facility of completely satisfied, dedicated partnerships could appear apparent, however we are able to’t underestimate how this kind of connection can result in an extended, extra fulfilled life.”

One significantly touching vignette within the documentary sequence highlights Panagiotis Kouloulias (96) and Aleka Mazari (81), a pair dwelling in Ikaria. These two discovered love later in life, when Kouloulias was a 73-year-old widower. “When my first spouse handed away, I had misplaced my urge for food to stay,” says Kouloulias within the sequence. “I would not speak, I would not chuckle, I would not eat… I fell into items, and [Mazari] introduced me again.”

Kouloulias and Mazari’s relationships demonstrates the ability of a romantic partnership to not solely increase your happiness, but in addition, to encourage you to partake in wholesome habits, says Buettner. Analysis has proven that we are likely to mirror the life-style behaviors of our companions, so if we’re romantically concerned with somebody who’s participating in longevity-boosting actions all day lengthy, there’s additionally extra of an opportunity we’ll, too.

2. A easy snack can have a big effect in your longevity

Although Buettner recognized a plant-based weight-reduction plan as one of many authentic 9 pillars of the Blue Zones, he is discovered within the years since that one frequent piece of that weight-reduction plan might play an outsize function in longevity—and that is nuts, specifically walnuts. Certainly, an observational examine revealed in 2021 that assessed mortality in almost 100,000 folks over the course of 20 years discovered that greater walnut consumption was related to larger life expectancy, probably due to the nut’s excessive focus of omega-3 fatty acids.

Within the sequence, nuts get their highlight when Buettner visits Loma Linda, the place many residents are members of the Seventh-day Adventist religion and thus eat a plant-based weight-reduction plan for spiritual causes—which undoubtedly contributes to their longevity. In exploring the diets of locals within the episode, Buettner uncovers that “it is not simply the absence of meat, however the common presence of complete grains, legumes, fruits, greens, and nuts [that makes a difference].”

On nuts specifically, Buettner emphasizes the significance of consuming a handful each day to up your probabilities of dwelling an extended life. And if walnuts aren’t your factor, know that there are well being advantages to be gleaned from all types of nuts, that are wealthy in protein and wholesome fat.