From Justine Butler, Bristol, UK
Michael Marshall’s look at the Mediterranean diet made one key observation I wish he had expanded on. He described how one scientist said different regions of the world may have their own optimum diet. This is what longevity researcher Dan Buettner found in his study of so-called blue zones, where there are high levels of centenarians. One is in Sardinia, in the Mediterranean, but the other zones are far from it (13 January, p 32).
From one side of the planet to the other, blue zone inhabitants share some striking similarities that can be adapted to suit anyone. Their diets are plant-based and moderate, most have a drink in the evening and they move about a lot by gardening, cooking, playing games or exercising. They find ways to reduce stress, find a purpose in life, offer and receive support and, perhaps most importantly, find their tribe. We could learn a lot from them.
