Let me start by debunking a few well-established myths about longevity.

Myth #1: If you try very hard, you can live to 100.

The truth is you need to have won the genetic lottery to make it to the century mark. According the demographer S. Jay Olshansky, a 40-year-old man has only one chance in 66 of reaching age 100. A woman has about one chance in 30. The reality is, our bodies, like those of all mammals, are designed for reproduction. We are built to have children and to stick around long enough for our children to have children. There’s nothing in our evolutionary hardwiring that favors living past the age of grandparenthood.

Myth #2: There are pills, hormones or supplements that can slow aging.

The truth is there is nothing proven to reverse, stop or even slow aging.

A few years ago, a team of top longevity scientists organized by Scientific American magazine issued an unequivocal statement refuting the power of any known drug or supplement to slow the aging process.

Myth 3#: There is nothing I can do to extend my healthy life expectancy.

The truth is that, despite the above, we can all add more good years to our lives. The best available science tells the human machine—the body—should be able to last 90 years. But life expectancy in the United States is only 78. Somewhere along the line, we’re missing 12 good years of healthy life.

Myth #4: Longevity is all genes.

Actually, research shows that less than 20% of how long the average person lives—within biological limits—is dictated by genes. The other 80% is determined by lifestyle.

So, if we stick with the facts, the most responsible way to find a formula for living longer is to look among the people who are actually living the longest. If we can find a culture where many people live extraordinarily long lives, we have the potential of finding a formula for longevity.

That’s why we’ve come to Ikaria, this small Greek island in the Aegean Sea, where people are reaching age 90 at perhaps the highest rate in the world. They’re getting the years that we’re missing.

I’ve assembled a team of the very best experts to help tease out the ingredients in this special longevity recipe. Over the next two weeks, we’ll let you vote to direct our team as we sift through dozens of possible factors—from islanders’ diet, to how they shed stress, to their attitudes towards older people. Then we’ll distill some clear lessons to bring home.  Glad you're coming along with us!

Live Large,

Dan

Team Leader Dan Buettner is author of the New York Times Bestseller, The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who've Lived the Longest