6 Habits of the Longest-Living People in the World

Humanity has always loved the idea of living for as long as possible. There are ancient religious texts that focus on people who lived hundreds of years, some of them reaching birthdays that we struggle to comprehend.

By the 16th century, the legend of the Fountain of Youth had become well-known all around the world, as people started looking for the sacred waters where they could preserve their youth.

Oldest Living Woman

Maria Branyas Morera doesn’t acknowledge ever having been to the Fountain of Youth, but according to the Gerontology Research Group, she’s the oldest living human in the world today, having celebrated her 117th birthday on March 4, 2024.

Morera was born in San Francisco, California in 1907, and has been the oldest living person in the world since January of 2023. Morera and her parents moved to Spain in 1915, where she has lived ever since.

In addition to her title as the oldest living person in the world, she’s also the last person living in Europe who was born in 1907, the last person living in Spain who was born in the first decade of the 1910s, and the oldest validated person to ever call Spain home.

How does someone live such a long time?

Morera doesn’t really point to any tips or tricks that she’s used, but other people who have lived well past the expected lifespan have been more open about their habits.

While implementing these habits may not help you live to your 100th birthday, it’s certainly interesting to learn more about the daily routines of people who are among the oldest people in the world.

Understanding Blue Zones

Dan Buettner is not one of the oldest people on Earth, but he has studied those who are, and some of the information that he’s gathered throughout his career with National Geographic is amazing.

Over the last two decades, during which he has scoured the globe looking for the oldest people on the planet, Buettner coined the phrase “Blue Zones,” a term that refers to regions where people often live to 100 years.

Some of the most interesting data that Buettner has gathered focuses on what isn’t so common in these Blue Zones. People who live in Blue Zones report extremely low rates of diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and other preventable diseases.

Throughout his research, Buettner pinpointed five Blue Zones around the world:

• Okinawa, Japan • Ikaria, Greece • Nicoya, Costa Rica • Ogliastra region of Sardina • Loma Linda, California

Buettner has published two books about his research, titled The Blue Zones and The Blue Zone Solution which detail the information that he’s uncovered. Perhaps the most telling information that Buettner has compiled involves the daily habits that these individuals share.

They Move Every Day

Buettner points to the fact that Blue Zone people are prompted to move every day, largely because of their surroundings. Because of the geographic layouts of the Blue Zones, many of the people walk or bicycle to work, school, or other places around town.

While many people take public transportation or drive their own vehicles to get from point A to point B, people in the Blue Zones walk or ride bicycles.

That’s not the only way that Blue Zone residents get more active. Many of them raise gardens for food, and the Ikarian women make their own bread.

Ultimately, instead of taking part in conveniences that promote a lack of movement, the people in these zones who are living to 100 find opportunities to be active at every stage of life.

As they get older, they take part in exercises that don’t put as much strain and stress on their joints, but they still get active every single day.

The Blue Zone Diet

According to some recent research, a handful of nuts each day may add two to three years to life expectancy. Nuts, along with fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, beans, and whole grains are all cornerstone elements of the Blue Zone diet.

Most of the people who are living to 100 do eat meat occasionally, but they’re careful about the frequency, the type of meat, and how it’s prepared.

In fact, Loma Linda, California, the only Blue Zone in the United States reportedly has a lot of pescatarians, meaning the only meat they eat is fish.

On an international level, many of the Blue Zone residents who spoke with Buettner reportedly only ate pork and never ate it more than five times per month.

The type of food isn’t the only part of the diet that centenarians follow. They stop eating before they feel full. This is a cornerstone principle in Okinawa, Japan, where they live by a Confucian mantra that reminds them to push their plate away when they feel 80% full.

When you stop eating before you feel full, you can still avoid hunger, but you don’t run the risk of overeating.

What About Alcohol?

There is a lot of debate surrounding the health benefits of alcohol. Some doctors believe that a single beer per day is good for kidney function while other doctors say that there are no medical benefits of drinking alcohol.

While there will always be conflicting research surrounding this hot-button topic, we do know that Sardinians regularly drink two glasses of Cannonau wine, which is high in antioxidants and polyphenols.

Some studies indicate that red wine has been shown to lower the risk of heart disease and some cancers. Additionally, red wine has been shown to slow the progression of neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

They Manage Stress

One of the universal principles shared across Blue Zones involves mitigating stress. According to Buettner, chronic inflammation is the source of most of our illnesses.

In most cases, inflammation stems from intestinal inflammation that comes from a combination of poor dietary choices and stress.

In Ikaria, daily naps are a vital part of the daily routine.

In Okinawa, everyone takes some time every day to quietly reflect and remember their ancestors.

In Sardina, where they drink two glasses of wine a day, happy hour is a tradition.

Buettner also found that people in many of these Blue Zones like to run, which helps them alleviate stress. There are countless studies linking exercises that focus on the cardiovascular system and reduced stress.

Consider getting outside and being active every day as a means of clearing your stress.

They’re Part of Faith-Based Communities

One of the most interesting aspects of Buettner’s study found that of the 263 centenarians who took part in the Blue Zone study, 258 of them were part of a faith-based community.

There were some variances regarding which type of religion the communities were affiliated with, but all but five participants had faith-based community ties.

According to studies, attending faith-based community services or meetings four times each month can add up to 14 years of life expectancy.

They Have Purpose

According to Buettner’s research, having a purpose can add up to seven years of extra life expectancy. Of the people who live in Blue Zones that took part in the study, many of them had something that they were compelled to do each morning when they woke up.

In some instances, that purpose focused on their family, which Buettner reports can add up to six years to a lifespan.

Others found purpose by volunteering, and others tied their purpose to the fulfillment they found from their jobs. The important part of the equation was not what the purpose was, but rather, that the individual has a purpose. Find something that drives you and embrace it.

Following Buettner's work, there are Blue Zone areas popping up all aroudnd the world where people are trying to adopt some of the habits that are commonly found in Blue Zones.

Consider adding some of these habits to your daily routine as you pursue a healthier, happier lifestyle.