Habits Of Healthy People That You Must Follow

THERE’S ALWAYS A NEW FAD DIET THAT’S ALL THE RAGE! HERE ARE THE HABITS OF THE HEALTHIEST PEOPLE ON EARTH—THE HABITS THAT NEVER GO OUT OF STYLE.

Doctors, scholars and medical professionals have been studying centenarians (people who live to be 100 or older) for decades. Part of what they’ve found is that there are a few tiny pockets around the world—like Okinawa, Japan, the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica, and Sardinia, Italy—that are centenarian hotspots—or as the professionals call them, “blue zones.”

So what do the people who live in these blue zones have in common? Aside from a lucky draw from the gene pool, there are a few habits that centenarians have stuck to for most of their lives. And we can learn from them to live long and healthy lives ourselves!

To get started on the path to a healthy 100, here are the most common habits of some of the healthiest people on earth:

1. THEY STOP EATING WHEN THEY’RE 80% FULL.

Studies show that the centenarians of Okinawa stick to a low-calorie diet, which helps them stay generally lean. Their tendency to stop eating once they’re 80 percent full is a cultural practice called “hara hachi bu”.

Seeing as the centenarians of Okinawa keep an average BMI (Body Mass Index) of 18 to 22, this habit is clearly effective in terms of staving off unnecessary pounds.

2. THEY HAVE A SENSE OF PURPOSE.

Stress is one of the leading causes of disease, so keeping it to a minimum is imperative if you want to live to see the big 1-0-0.
One of the most common attitudes and beliefs among centenarians is that having a sense of purpose in life is essential. In Japan, elderly people tend to work, garden, dance, and practice tai chi well into their 90s.

3. THEY WALK A LOT.

Most of the centenarian hotspots tend to be in areas where walking as transportation is a necessity. The people of the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica, for example, are constantly walking throughout the day to get to church or work, keeping their metabolism boosted around the clock.

4. THEY LAUGH.

Laughter truly is the best medicine. Catching a few giggles with friends is one way blue zone centenarians keep stress and all its complications at bay.

Pura Vida, or “pure life”, is a term Costa Ricans use to describe the spirit of happiness, fun, and lightness—an ideal we could all adhere to more often.

5. THEY STAY CONNECTED TO A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY.

What would we do without our friends and family? This is a question centenarians don’t even stop to consider. They tend to keep a close, tight-knit tribe of caring friends and family who they can lean on for support during tough times.

Socializing (even when you’d rather watch Netflix and eat pizza in your jammies) acts as an effective anti-depressant as it provides a platform for relaxing and talking through problems.

6. THEY EAT A MOSTLY PLANT-BASED DIET.

Plant-based foods like spinach, kale, and broccoli are chock-full of vitamins and antioxidants, which help keep your cells young, fresh, and healthy.

Centenarians tend to stick to natural, whole foods like fruits, veggies, nuts, and seeds. It’s simple—eat a salad, live to be 100. (Well, maybe not that simple, but you get the idea!)

7. THEY STAY YOUNG AT HEART.

When a person reaches the age of 97 in Okinawa, the milestone is celebrated through Kajimaya, a ceremony that signifies a return to youth. Centenarians know that the key to staying young physically is staying young mentally.

Your thoughts create your reality, which means if you think you’re old, you will be! But the opposite is also true. {Click to tweet}

8. THEY EAT A BALANCED DIET.

While sticking to fiber-rich veggies and fruits is important, deprivation only leads to dissatisfaction and an inevitable binge later on. Some centenarians admit to indulging their sweet tooth once in a while with a little chocolate or candy.

While sticking to fiber-rich veggies and fruits is important, deprivation only leads to dissatisfaction and an inevitable binge later on.

9. THEY STICK TO WATER AND TEA.

The people of Okinawa drink up to 12 glasses of water a day, plus a few cups of green tea. It’s so easy to let dehydration go unnoticed, which is why it’s important to be sipping on H2O throughout the day.

Water energizes your muscles and rids your digestive system of unwanted toxins, while green tea gives your metabolism a boost.

10. THEY KEEP DRINKING TO A MINIMUM.

The people of Okinawa tend to be low on the cardiovascular risk scale, which is partly due to their minimal alcohol consumption. Drinking to excess can increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, and liver failure — afflictions that certainly won’t help you live to see 100. As a rule of thumb, try to stick to one or two glasses of red wine a week.

Each of these habits contribute to a healthier, happier, longer life according to the people who are actually living it. If you’re interested in doing the same, start incorporating even just one or two of these habits into your own life to start living healthier and happier today!

Credit to Career Contessa for these amazing healthy habit tips!