The Blue Zones Project is a nationwide initiative that focuses in on different communities throughout the United States to promote a healthier environment that focuses on lifestyle choices that contribute to individuals living longer and more meaningful lives. Utilizing social science and statistics around the globe, the Blue Zones Project has identified “Blue Zones” around the world where individuals live longer and healthier lives on average. Currently Okinawa (Japan), Sardinia (Italy), Nicoya Peninsula (Costa Rica), Ikaria (Greece), and Loma Linda (California), are all considered “Blue Zones” and serve as a working model that the Blue Zones Project seeks to mirror their ideals in the communities that they are actively serving in the US.
Researchers have observed similarities in these “Blue-Zoned” populations regarding their lifestyle choices and have concluded that they all include a plant-based diet, moderate calorie intake, low tobacco and alcohol use, regular physical activity, and a strong sense of community through social ties. Evidently, a connection has been drawn between these lifestyle choices and life longevity within these specific communities.
This research has led to what the Blue Zones Project team calls the “Power 9,” which are nine common principles that individuals within these “Blue-Zone” hotspots around the world share that can be attributed to their longevity. One of these principles includes the importance of moving naturally throughout your day-to-day life whether that includes walking to class or making an effort to engage with physical activity each day. Alongside your personal life, the importance of working within your own community and being near those that you care about effectively improving your social well-being.
Lastly, for members within a group to feel a sense of belonging, they need to have easy access to places or community centers that they can develop relationships with others on a deeper and more meaningful level including, but not limited to, a common place of worship, such as a church.
To promote these core ideals and make a difference within Grand Forks, representatives of the Blue Zones Project team have organized several events that are free of charge to community members. These events include exhibitions that bring people together and offer insights on how they can implement changes into their own lives to improve. Alongside a series of cooking demonstrations that in both the Grand Forks YMCA Family Center and Augustana Lutheran Church throughout the month of February. The goal of these events is to instill a sense of belonging within Grand Forks and help guide those who seek to live healthier lives on their paths to doing so.
Whether or not you have previously been aware of the Blue Zones Project and what they stand for, you can visit their webpage at grandforks.bluezonesproject.com for more information surrounding the various events that they have planned for community members and college students alike in Grand Forks this year as we should all strive to live healthier and longer lives.
Daniel Silva is a Dakota Student General Reporter. He can be reached at daniel.silva@und.edu.
