The Halo Effect of Sacred Spaces
In the original blue zones, all but five of the 263 centenarians we interviewed belonged to some faith-based community. Research shows that attending faith-based services just four times per month will add 4-14 years of life expectancy—and denomination doesn’t seem to matter. “People who pay attention to their spiritual side have lower rates of cardiovascular disease, depression, stress, and suicide, and their immune systems seem to work better … To a certain extent, adherence to a religion allows them to relinquish the stresses of everyday life to a higher power,” says Dan Buettner, Blue Zones founder and National Geographic…
13 Unusual Ways to Shed Stress (Lessons from the World’s Blue Zones)
The Power 9® principle of Downshifting is nothing new to centenarians in the blue zones –the longest-living people in the world with the highest life expectancy. Designed to help you achieve a high-quality, well-balanced life, these nine principles can also be major stress reducers. Stress is one of the leading causes of chronic inflammation. It also has direct links to major age-related health issues, from dementia to Alzheimer’s disease. Unlike most of the modern world who prefer to shed stress at the gym or the mall, residents in the blue zones turn to traditional down-to-earth practices to recharge and…
8 Things That Can Weaken Your Immune System
A healthy immune system is crucial for your body’s ability to ward off viruses, bad bacteria, parasites, and other infections. When your immune system is compromised, you are more susceptible to getting sick. Immune health has been a hot topic ever since the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe, but how many of us are taking necessary measures to protect our immune systems at all costs? Our own behaviors and choices have a definite impact on our health, and those choices can wreak some serious havoc on our immune systems. Rather than wait before it’s too late to strengthen…
What Are Pocket Parks? 5 Incredible Transformations of Unused Land Plots
Urban community leaders are transforming empty spaces into mini-recreational parks. Primarily created in inner-city areas, and often a product of an area’s plans for urban regeneration, pocket parks provide a safe and welcoming place of temporary escape for locals who frequent them. Also known as “vest-pocket parks,” a term coined in the 1960s, the first-ever parks in history were developed in response to the lack of park space available in urban areas. Residents leverage their local pocket parks for a number of social activities–including intimate events, playdates, and low-key outings with friends and family. You’ll even see individuals who…
