The Blue Zones: 9 Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest

by Dan Buettner

Scientific studies suggest that only about 25 percent of how long we live is dictated by genes, according to famous studies of Danish twins. The other 75 percent is determined by our lifestyles and the everyday choices we make.

75% of healthiness comes from how we live vs. only genes

Eat a lean, plant-based diet accented with meat.

eat plant based diet accented with meat

Today in Japan, the focus is on avoiding disease in the first place.

in japan the focus is on preventing disease in the first place.

By the time of Kamada’s birth in 1902, Okinawans got 80 percent of their calories from sweet potatoes.

okinawan centenarians getting 80% of calories from sweet potatoes

All day long she nurses a pot of hot, green tea.

nurses a pot of green tea all day

eat until they’re 80 percent full.

they eat until theyre 80% full

That’s because it takes about 20 minutes for the stomach to tell the brain it is full.

it takes 20 minutes for stomach to tell brain its full

Sabbath to come because they have a guilt-free time when they don’t have to study or do some other obligation. They

observe a real day of rest each week

health habits are as contagious as catching a cold.

health habits (positive and negaative) are contagious.