This story is available exclusively to Business Insider
subscribers.
Become an Insider
and start reading now.Have an account? .
People who live past 100 usually don't usually try to live that long; it just sort of happens to them.
Advertisement
For the last decade, Dan Buettner, an author and National Geographic fellow, has been looking into what he calls Blue Zones: pockets of longevity around that world that have unusually high concentrations of centenarians. (The most famous is the Greek island of Ikaria.)
This story is available exclusively to Business Insider
subscribers.
Become an Insider
and start reading now.Have an account? .
Of course, not everyone in any given place lives a long life, and no set of behaviors can guarantee someone will make it past 100. But healthier communities tend to have healthier people, and — based on what Buettner has observed during his extensive travels — Blue Zones are some of the healthiest communities in the world.
Advertisement
Here are six habits Buettner has found are shared among the long-living people in Blue Zones.
Advertisement
They have cheap, easily accessible produce, and they actually eat their fruits and vegetables.
They walk more places, often because their communities are pedestrian-friendly.
Advertisement
They don't lead sedentary lives. They're "nudged into movement about every 20 minutes," burning 500 to 1,000 calories per day.
Their kitchens are set up so it's easier to make healthy food.
Advertisement
They have plant-based diets, often high in complex carbohydrates and beans.
They do tasks that could be done with a machine by hand, like chopping wood, gardening, and cleaning.
Read next
NEW LOOK
Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview
Thanks for signing up!
Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go.