The approach of killing or attacking the microbial organisms has flourished over time with antibiotics, antivirals, anti-parasitic and anti-fungal agents but using the same approach to tackle the epidemic of chronic diseases like diabetes, obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, heart disease, stroke, cancers and dementia has failed miserably as evident from the burgeoning healthcare costs and burden of diseases we are seeing today.
If we look at the Blue zones, which are regions of world where people life a thriving life closer to 100 years or more, we can get a very comprehensive model of what behaviors can promote health and longevity. I had the opportunity to attend the International Conference on Nutrition in Medicine in Washington, DC in early part of August 2018. The dinner talk was by Dan Buettner, who discovered these regions around the world and undertook the famous Blue zones project by National Geographic. The learning from this project boils down to having the right lifestyle for disease free health and thriving life. If I attempt to summarize the main findings then they would as follows:
- 90-100% plant based whole foods diet (beans/vegetables/fruits/whole grains/nuts with animal food intake more like a flavor once a week and not the main course)
- Daily activity for 45 minutes
- Sleep at least 7.5 hours a day
- Having a purpose in life (In Okinawa, Japan which is one of the blue zones it is called “Ikigai”)
- Having the social support of family and friends
- Having faith (does not matter which philosophy/religion/dominion you follow but having connection with the Divine) and spending some time every day towards prayer/meditation)
- Respect for your elders (not looking onto them as a burden but instead a repository of wisdom and knowledge of the decades of life that they have seen before you)
- Being in contact with nature (spending time outdoors, connecting with mother Earth)
Until next blog, in health and wellness!
Soham Patel, MD
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References:
Tan, S. and Tatsumura, Y. (2018). Alexander Fleming (1881–1955): Discoverer of penicillin. SMJ. Retrieved August 25, 2018 from,
http://www.smj.org.sg/article/alexander-fleming-1881-1955-discoverer-penicillin
Willet, W.C. et al (1970, January 01), Prevention of chronic disease by means of diet and lifestyle changes, Retrieved August 25, 2018, from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.gov/books/NBK11795/
The Blue Zones Story. (n.d.). Retrieved August 25, 2018, from