Common Traits of People in Blue Zones

Dr. Francisco Contreras is the general director of Oasis of Hope and an oncologist with decades of experience. Recently, Dr. Contreras participated in the creation of the docuseries Healthy Long Life as an oncology specialist at Oasis of Hope. He made contributing remarks in several episodes, including an episode exploring Sardinia, one of the so-called “Blue Zones” of the world.

Blue Zones were first identified by Dan Buettner, and they’re defined as locations in the world where people experience inordinately high longevity along with a notably reduced incidence of chronic illnesses, such as heart problems, diabetes, and cancer. Watch Healthy Long Life now available on the Healthy Long Life streaming app on Apple TV streaming devices.

One of the traits Buettner identified in these Blue Zones is increased physical activity among people living in them. They tend to have active environments such as gardens, and people walk more than average.

Another common trait is the moderate and regular consumption of alcohol. Moderate alcohol drinkers were found to outlive both heavy drinkers and non-drinkers. And the vast majority of people living in Blue Zones belong to some faith-based community, among other common traits.