Secrets of the Blue Zones or how to be healthier?

Being healthy is good, and not just on the World Health Day. On this special occasion, we take a peek into the world of the Blue Zones, because where else would you really know the essence of health than in regions where a 70-year-old is still considered a bachelor and where people often live to be 100 years old. Here is what you can learn from the lifestyle of inhabitants of Blue Zones.

Many people believe that the Blue Zones get their name from their proximity to the sea or ocean. Well, this is not the case. The name was coined by Dan Buettner, who was the first to notice places with a much higher average age: when he found such a region, he simply marked it with a blue dot on the map, and the Blue Zones were born.

There are currently 5 such zones: Okinawa in Japan, Sardinia in Italy, Ikaria in Greece, Nicoya in Costa Rica and Lomo Linda in California. What they all have in common is that they are particularly keen to eat right, do exercise regularly, have a heartfelt purpose in life and place a high value on social interaction. Let’s see how these 4 pillars can be incorporated into everyday life in Hungary!

In the Blue Zones, people mainly eat fresh, seasonal foods, often including local “superfoods”. Although there are no purple sweet potatoes or goya (an Okinawa vegetable that is terribly bitter but full of valuable nutrients) in Hungary, for example, if we start paying attention to what we put on our plates, we can take an important step towards good health. Interestingly, people living in the Blue Zones eat relatively little meat, preferring fish and seafood, but even these are eaten in moderation: in return, they do not regret eating good quality carbohydrates. Of course, sometimes we don’t feel like cooking with thousands of vegetables and would rather go out to a restaurant or order something delicious. You can choose from a wide range of restaurants on our interactive map, but for a healthy option, it is worth trying the Süt a nap vegán bisztró in Miskolc, where the delicacies are made from organic ingredients.

There’s no need to immediately put on running shoes, pick up the heaviest weights or become a yogi: the Blue Zones are all about natural movement. Gardening, walking, hiking: all activities that get the whole body moving at zero or minimal cost. There are many beautiful places to explore in Hungary, alone or with friends. Check out some lookouts – we recommend more on our map – and head for the top!

Being with the people we love. The best battery for the soul. That’s why it is a good idea to organise as many activities together as possible: outings are an ideal way to connect, talk and recharge in the fresh air.  There are many cultural and gastronomic programmes organised in the country, so as well as hiking, these can be a great way to spend your time. Each month we carefully collect the most exciting of these, some of which are completely free!

This time it’s not about material things, but about the activity that the Japanese call ikigai. The activity that makes the heart shine. The one which calms you, gives you a flow experience, smoothes out the nervous system that may have been damaged during the day. What’s more, it can even benefit the society.

Most of us think he or she doesn’t have an ikigai, but if we quieten down a bit, something is almost certain to come to the surface. Something we’ve been passionate about since we were kids, but maybe they said, “don’t do this, don’t waste your time doing this, it’s pointless.” It’s worth reflecting on what we wanted to be when we were little, what we wanted to be when we grew up. Because the answer to ikigai is hiding somewhere in there, and it is important for our health to find it.