Who hasn’t, at some time in their lives, contemplated immortality? Fiction is littered with such characters – Count Dracula, Dr Who, The Highlander, to name but a few – so I guess this question has fascinated many authors too. According to the peer reviewed ‘Internet Encyclopaedia of Philosophy’, “Immortality is the indefinite continuation of a person’s existence, even after death.” This definition is wide enough to embrace ‘afterlife’ too – the existence of the consciousness or spirit of the departed. Personally, if I could achieve immortality I would prefer not to roam the landscape as a ghost putting the willies up people or uttering a creepy commentary during a séance like the reported case of Erik Medhus. According to Richard Martini, author of ‘Architecture of the Afterlife’, after committing suicide Erik called his mum, a physician in Houston, on her mobile and said, “Hi mom, I’m okay.” But returning with haste to the title, taken from the classic 1980s hit by Irene Cara, can we live forever or, at the very least, significantly extend our lifespans?
Several reliable data streams conclude that the average life expectancy in the United Kingdom is a tad over eighty-one. In the United States it’s seventy-eight, whilst down under, the average Aussie will hear the words ‘Happy birthday’ for the last time on their eighty-third anniversary. With that number of candles on a cake no wonder bush fires are frequent! However, there may be a real opportunity to drastically dodge the coffin for much longer, due to an approach to life that isn’t totally out of the blue.
According to eminent researchers across the globe, Blue Zone living will add around an extra decade to your life. Blue Zone living? Exactly what the heck is this, and how do I put myself on the waiting list? I need at least another ten years or so to be added to the end of my current projected lifespan, if only to make sense of what is currently happening in the UK and to witness Notts County back in the English Football League. I required an expert steer and was prepared to pay for the privilege. As I got the first round of drinks in (and two packets of crisps) I sat socially distanced opposite Kiran Meka, a PhD student from the University of Southampton. He is working on a specialist project with other health and academic professionals to build an economic case post COVID-19 for Governments across the G20 to invest within the disciplines of maternal, new-born and child health. As the global community negotiates the ravages of the pandemic health data has been plentiful, and the ever-smiling Kiran was eager to answer my questions.
What does your research engage with and how has COVID-19 shaped your thinking?
“There are two facets of my research. Firstly, how can the UK adopt principles based on the Blue Zone ethos, that provide sustainable solutions for lifestyle diseases, especially diabetes. And secondly, to critically analyse the current diabetes prevention programme.”
Having reversed type 2 diabetes this opening pitch resonated strongly with me. I was also acutely sensitive to the rhetoric that accompanied many COVID-19 related deaths. Underlying health issues often related to obesity. Diabetes appeared to be the smoking gun.
Kiran added, “COVID-19 has realigned and reinvigorated my way of thinking. Basically, it has opened up the possibilities to think differently and question the existing solutions that are being promoted by public health policy.”
I sipped my drink and reflected upon the double-digit daily tablets I had once been prescribed when I was first diagnosed with diabetes. Could public health policy better be described as “public pill policy”? And how much were Big Pharma making out of this opportunity? I figured that the manufacturers of processed food, high in sugar and salt, had colluded to create a perfect diabetic deluge. Crunching on my salt and vinegar crisps I decided to leave the conspiracy theories for another day.
Photo by Nadine Primeau on Unsplash
What are Blue Zones?
Kiran, still to touch his drink – or crisps for that matter – provided some much-needed context, “Blue Zones is a term coined by eminent researchers to describe areas across the globe where people have exceptional longevity.” Pausing for a moment to take his first sip of alcohol, he added, “These areas have the highest proportion of centenarians (living for 100 years or more) and do not suffer from lifestyle diseases that affect the modern world.”
I was aware of the contradiction in his last sentence since why would any self-respecting developed nation have such poor public policies, allowing lifestyle diseases to be so destructive? I now realised why Kiran was so excited about the research.
Where do they exist?
Expecting to hear a list of territories that I never knew existed, where the inhabitants were at least several light years away from the nearest pizza parlour or burger bar I was somewhat surprised by Kiran’s reply. “There are five areas. Okinawa (Japan), Ikaria (Greece), Sardinia (Italy), Nicoya (Costa Rica), and Loma Linda (California, USA).”
What human behaviours exist within Blue Zones that increase longevity?
Having changed my own behaviour to kick type 2 diabetes into touch, I knew that adopting some minor changes with rigorous consistency (e.g., by reducing my intake of sugar by simply reading the packaging) had led to the most remarkable and positive changes to my own health. In the not-too-distant past walking upstairs would have been an effort, but now a 5K run is commonplace and I can still regain my posture pretty quickly when I finish. Not to mention feeling far more energetic, enthusiastic, and erotic!
“The behaviours seem to be pretty much common across all of the zones even though they are separated by thousands of miles. Generally speaking, they tend to sleep for seven and a half hours or more, dine with family and friends and are active throughout the waking hours.”
It all sounded like the 1970’s family drama “The Waltons” and to be totally honest I still fancy Mary Ellen. Although Nellie Oleson from “Little House on the Prairie” is still the subject of some of my weirder fantasies. Time to drink and listen some more.
“It is a way of life. None of them go to any gyms, they pay attention to their spiritual side, eat healthy food – loads of vegetables, greens, beans, fruits, and wholegrains – and consume minimal animal protein.” Eating a handful of crisps he added, “They stop eating when they are eighty percent full, are community spirited, and last but not least, they drink a few cups of black coffee without milk and sugar.”
No gyms! This sounded my type of utopia! How easy was it to become a naturalised Costa Rican, and how much were properties going for in Nicoya?
Can Blue Zones be created anywhere?
As Kiran devoured his packet of crisps, I recalled my own dramatic weight loss journey. The conclusion I had reached was that food should not be demonised. Rather, the quantities and the ingredients (often hidden to a casual glance) were the key red flags. He continued, “They can be created everywhere provided there is an appetite for change from communities, local government and businesses. We simply cannot go on with old way of thinking, that the NHS will manage the chronic diseases that are currently rampant.”
Kiran and I
I interjected and wondered if what we were presently doing (talking rather than just drinking beer and eating crisps) should be more widely encouraged? Putting my phone down earlier in the conversation after checking in at the pub, I wondered if social media also has a part to play in reinforcing the positive health messages rather than reading if Dave is in another relationship? He agreed.
“We need to have an open and honest discussion about the lifestyle choices we are making and tackle the root causes of the problems. COVID-19 clearly shows that people with underlying health conditions have suffered worse health outcomes. So, post pandemic, we simply cannot go back to the old ways. We need to learn lessons holistically and apply the principles in a multidisciplinary approach.”
Holistically? Was that a town proximate to Walton’s Mountain? Or was he talking about the medical principle of treating a person as a whole, and taking into consideration structural and social factors as well, rather than just the symptoms? I had once been a serial pill-popper, but my success was down to changing my circumstances and hitherto inherent behaviour. Holistic thinking had the potential to change personal health and wellbeing.
As if by magic Kiran picked up on this subliminal thought pattern. “That change begins with you. There is a spiritual message that can be found in ancient scriptures across religions – “Tell me your friends, I shall tell you who you are”. We need to get good friends around us. Healthy behaviour tends to motivate and provide support when you are down. On the other hand, if you have a circle of friends who eat junk foods and drink alcohol, you tend to follow that path too.” Grabbing the attention of the bar staff to order another round Kiran concluded, “That is what people in Blue Zones have – good community, supporting each other with good values. It is not rocket science. The solution to chronic diseases is nutrition. If you fix that, then all communities start to change.”
Should we be drinking alcohol and eating crisps?
The killer question hung in the air for a brief moment until Kiran broke the ice. “In fact, people in Blue Zones tend to consume red wine on a regular basis but I have to stress it is in moderation. Eating crisps occasionally is not an issue as such, but the frequency of it has an impact and alters certain behaviour patterns.” I was keen for a simple illustration and Kiran delivered.
“Let me give you a broad example. The ideal goal of positive and sustainable change happens one step at a time. If someone eats processed food, drinks alcohol, and eats meat regularly the research has already shown it has negative health outcomes. Research has shown it takes approximately twenty-one days to alter the chemical communication between gut and brain, therefore a change in behaviour for twenty-one days can have a significant impact on our health going forward. The change becomes a habit and behaviours, and taste buds alter. It is the applied effort in the right direction that will impact the individual’s health, family, community, etc.”
As we finished our drinks, I looked around the pub beer garden. All shapes and sizes but to be fair most were carrying additional timber. Some were like log cabins. All of us had been motivated to come to the pub. I had been motivated to lose three stone in twelve weeks some years back and kept it off, thereby dramatically changing my life. Twenty-one days? Blimey it often took that long to say goodnight in the Walton household!
What is stopping you?
© Ian Kirke 2021 & uncredited photograph
Title photograph by Marc Najera on Unsplash