By simply eating right, we can add years to our lives. That's exactly what these people did. By following this well-researched cookbook, a collection of recipes from the "blue zones" where it is most common to find centenarians. But it isn't just about what we eat, but how we live.
To start, this trial group of individuals was challenged to each find friends that would participate in this three-month experiment with them. Loneliness shaves off about 8 years of our life expectancy! So, having a friend join in is critical to success.
Three months later, all the participants who stuck with it saw a reduction in unhealthy weight, bad cholesterol, and an increase in well-being, including mood and overall health.
Watch the whole video below to learn more.
TRY IT OUT IN ONE AMERICAN CITY AND THE RESULTS WERE REMARKABLE.
AND THE RESULTS WERE REMARKABLE. >> DAN BUETTNER SAID HE FOUND
>> DAN BUETTNER SAID HE FOUND THE RECIPE ON HOW TO REACH A
THE RECIPE ON HOW TO REACH A HAPPY AND HEALTHY 100th YEAR,
HAPPY AND HEALTHY 100th YEAR, 100 RECIPES, TO BE IMPACT, ALL
100 RECIPES, TO BE IMPACT, ALL WRITTEN DOWN DURING A TWO-YEAR
WRITTEN DOWN DURING A TWO-YEAR JOURNEY THROUGH THE BLUE ZONES,
JOURNEY THROUGH THE BLUE ZONES, PLACES AROUND THE WORLD WHERE
PLACES AROUND THE WORLD WHERE PEOPLE SEEM TO DEFY THE LIMITS
PEOPLE SEEM TO DEFY THE LIMITS OF AGE.
OF AGE. >> WITHOUT HEART DISEASE, CANCER
>> WITHOUT HEART DISEASE, CANCER OR DIABETES, ANY DISEASES
OR DIABETES, ANY DISEASES PLAGUING AMERICA.
PLAGUING AMERICA. THIS IS WHAT THEY EAT.
THIS IS WHAT THEY EAT. BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT WHAT
BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT WHAT PEOPLE ARE EATING TO LIVE TO
PEOPLE ARE EATING TO LIVE TO 100.
100. >> WE’RE SEEING 500 YEARS OF
>> WE’RE SEEING 500 YEARS OF WISDOM CONCENTRATED IN ONE BOWL.
WISDOM CONCENTRATED IN ONE BOWL. >> THOSE RECIPES IN HIS NEW
>> THOSE RECIPES IN HIS NEW BOOK, THE BLUE ZONE’S KITCHEN.
BOOK, THE BLUE ZONE’S KITCHEN. >> THIS IS THE TRADITIONAL DIET.
>> THIS IS THE TRADITIONAL DIET. >> BUT CAN EATING THE SAME MEALS
>> BUT CAN EATING THE SAME MEALS HERE AT HOME ADD YEARS TO OUR
HERE AT HOME ADD YEARS TO OUR LIVES?
LIVES? WE TEAMED UP WITH DAN IN NAPLES,
WE TEAMED UP WITH DAN IN NAPLES, FLORIDA.
FLORIDA. >> THE SECRET SAUCE IS BLENDING
>> THE SECRET SAUCE IS BLENDING THEM THE WAY THE KOREANS DO IT.
THEM THE WAY THE KOREANS DO IT. WE SHOWED THEM HOW TO MAKE SOME
WE SHOWED THEM HOW TO MAKE SOME OF THE DISHES, BUT MORE
OF THE DISHES, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE HELP THEM CHOOSE
IMPORTANTLY, WE HELP THEM CHOOSE THREE OR FOUR OTHER PEOPLE.
THREE OR FOUR OTHER PEOPLE. AND ALL WE DID WAS CHALLENGE
AND ALL WE DID WAS CHALLENGE THEM TO HAVE AT LEAST FIVE POT
THEM TO HAVE AT LEAST FIVE POT LUCK DINNERS TOGETHER WHERE THEY
LUCK DINNERS TOGETHER WHERE THEY COOK FROM THE BOOK.
COOK FROM THE BOOK. >> A TEN-WEEK CHALLENGE.
>> A TEN-WEEK CHALLENGE. >> THIS IS WHAT CENTENARIANS
>> THIS IS WHAT CENTENARIANS REALLY EAT.
REALLY EAT. >> INVOLVING ABOUT A HUNDRED
>> INVOLVING ABOUT A HUNDRED VOLUNTEERS.
VOLUNTEERS. EVERYONE WAS SPLIT INTO GROUPS
EVERYONE WAS SPLIT INTO GROUPS CALLED MOI’S.
CALLED MOI’S. >> A MOI IS AN IDEA OF BRINGING
>> A MOI IS AN IDEA OF BRINGING FOUR OR FIVE FRIENDS TOGETHER.
FOUR OR FIVE FRIENDS TOGETHER. IF YOU COULD PUT THAT IN A PILL,
IF YOU COULD PUT THAT IN A PILL, IT WOULD BE A PHARMACEUTICAL
IT WOULD BE A PHARMACEUTICAL BLOCK BUSTER.
BLOCK BUSTER. LONELINESS IN THIS COUNTRY
LONELINESS IN THIS COUNTRY SHAVES ABOUT 8 YEARS OFF YOUR
SHAVES ABOUT 8 YEARS OFF YOUR LIFE EXPECTANCY.
LIFE EXPECTANCY. IN 1980, THE AVERAGE AMERICAN
IN 1980, THE AVERAGE AMERICAN HAD THREE GOOD FRIENDS THEY CAN
HAD THREE GOOD FRIENDS THEY CAN COUNT ON.
COUNT ON. WE’RE NOW DOWN TO UNDER TWO.
WE’RE NOW DOWN TO UNDER TWO. WE’RE SPENDING ALL OF OUR TIME
WE’RE SPENDING ALL OF OUR TIME SUCKED INTO OUR LITTLE DEVICES.
SUCKED INTO OUR LITTLE DEVICES. WE HAVE TO RESUME THAT
WE HAVE TO RESUME THAT CONNECTION, AND IF WE CAN RESUME
CONNECTION, AND IF WE CAN RESUME THAT CONNECTION AROUND HEALTHY
THAT CONNECTION AROUND HEALTHY FOOD, WE KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE
FOOD, WE KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE.
STONE. >> HI, I’M LISA, AND I’M 60
>> HI, I’M LISA, AND I’M 60 YEARS OLD.
YEARS OLD. >> ARMED WITH VIDEO CAMERAS.
>> ARMED WITH VIDEO CAMERAS. >> OLIVES, TOMATOES.
>> OLIVES, TOMATOES. >> LONGEVITY STEW.
>> LONGEVITY STEW. >> AND RECIPES FROM THE BLUE
>> AND RECIPES FROM THE BLUE ZONES, THE MOI’S GATHERED AND
ZONES, THE MOI’S GATHERED AND ENCOURAGED EACH OTHER.
ENCOURAGED EACH OTHER. >> IT’S REALLY GOOD.
>> IT’S REALLY GOOD. >> YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD OR YOUR
>> YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD OR YOUR COMMUNITY HAS TO BE ON BOARD
COMMUNITY HAS TO BE ON BOARD EATING THE SAME WAY, OTHERWISE
EATING THE SAME WAY, OTHERWISE IT WON’T WORK.
IT WON’T WORK. >> DIETS FAIL ALMOST ALL THE
>> DIETS FAIL ALMOST ALL THE PEOPLE ALMOST ALL THE TIME.
PEOPLE ALMOST ALL THE TIME. WHAT SEEMS TO WORK IN BLUE ZONES
WHAT SEEMS TO WORK IN BLUE ZONES NOT ONLY KNOWING THAT A LARGELY
NOT ONLY KNOWING THAT A LARGELY WHOLE PLANT FOOD DIET IS GOING
WHOLE PLANT FOOD DIET IS GOING TO HELP YOU LIVE LONGER, THEN
TO HELP YOU LIVE LONGER, THEN YOU NEED TO HAVE A SOCIAL
YOU NEED TO HAVE A SOCIAL NETWORK AROUND THIS WAY OF
NETWORK AROUND THIS WAY OF EATING.
EATING. >> THREE MONTHS LATER, DAN
>> THREE MONTHS LATER, DAN RETURNS TO SEE THE RESULTS.
RETURNS TO SEE THE RESULTS. REUNITING WITH THREE WOMEN WHO
REUNITING WITH THREE WOMEN WHO VOWED TO STICK WITH THAT
VOWED TO STICK WITH THAT TEN-WEEK CHALLENGE.
TEN-WEEK CHALLENGE. JEANETTE, JoANN, AND LISA.
JEANETTE, JoANN, AND LISA. >> THREE MONTHS AGO.
>> THREE MONTHS AGO. >> IT’S A LITTLE PAINFUL FOR ME
>> IT’S A LITTLE PAINFUL FOR ME TO LOOK AT IT, BUT LOOK AT THAT.
TO LOOK AT IT, BUT LOOK AT THAT. >> WHAT HAPPENED?
>> WHAT HAPPENED? >> I LOST 12 POUNDS.
>> I LOST 12 POUNDS. >> THAT’S AMAZING.
>> THAT’S AMAZING. CHOLESTEROL DOWN 22 POINTS.
CHOLESTEROL DOWN 22 POINTS. >> WOW.
>> WOW. >> YEAH.
>> YEAH. >> STARTING TO EAT THIS WAY, SHE
>> STARTING TO EAT THIS WAY, SHE STARTED TO MAKE OTHER CHANGES IN
STARTED TO MAKE OTHER CHANGES IN HER LIFE, MORE PHYSICAL
HER LIFE, MORE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.
ACTIVITY. SHE’S REALLY SET UP, I THINK,
SHE’S REALLY SET UP, I THINK, FOR A LONG-TERM.
FOR A LONG-TERM. >> AS FOR JEANETTE WHO USED TO
>> AS FOR JEANETTE WHO USED TO FEED HER FAMILY FAST FOOD MOST
FEED HER FAMILY FAST FOOD MOST NIGHTS BEFORE.
NIGHTS BEFORE. >> SHE ADOPTED IN A BIG WAY.
>> SHE ADOPTED IN A BIG WAY. >> I LOST 17 POUND.
>> I LOST 17 POUND. >> WOW, THAT’S AMAZING.
>> WOW, THAT’S AMAZING. THAT’S OVER A POUND A WEEK.
THAT’S OVER A POUND A WEEK. >> I FEEL HAPPY, I FEEL
>> I FEEL HAPPY, I FEEL ENERGIZED, I’M OUT, I’M
ENERGIZED, I’M OUT, I’M ADVENTUROUS, I GO PLACES, I DO
ADVENTUROUS, I GO PLACES, I DO THINGS.
THINGS. I’M EXCITED ABOUT IT.
I’M EXCITED ABOUT IT. >> WE DON’T ALLOW ANY SODA.
>> WE DON’T ALLOW ANY SODA. >> BUT THE BIGGEST CHANGE CAME
>> BUT THE BIGGEST CHANGE CAME FROM JoANN.
FROM JoANN. >> A LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE I SAW
>> A LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE I SAW YOU THREE MONTHS AGO.
YOU THREE MONTHS AGO. >> ABSOLUTELY.
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> YOU HAVE LOST A LOT OF
>> YOU HAVE LOST A LOT OF WEIGHT.
WEIGHT. >> LIKE 37 POUNDS.
>> LIKE 37 POUNDS. >> UNBELIEVABLE.
>> UNBELIEVABLE. >> NOT ONLY DID SHE LOSE THE
>> NOT ONLY DID SHE LOSE THE WEIGHT, HER ENTIRE ATTITUDE AND
WEIGHT, HER ENTIRE ATTITUDE AND PRESENTATION CHANGED.
PRESENTATION CHANGED. .
. >> WE HELPED GET HER OUT OF
>> WE HELPED GET HER OUT OF PAIN.
PAIN. WE HELPED HER LOOK BETTER, BUILD
WE HELPED HER LOOK BETTER, BUILD HER SELF-ESTEEM, AND THEN HER
HER SELF-ESTEEM, AND THEN HER WELL BEING FOLLOWED IT.
WELL BEING FOLLOWED IT. >> I HAD TO GET RID OF SO MANY
>> I HAD TO GET RID OF SO MANY DIFFERENT CLOTHES, THAT FELT
DIFFERENT CLOTHES, THAT FELT GOOD.
GOOD. >> WHAT’S YOUR HOPE TO SPEND ALL
>> WHAT’S YOUR HOPE TO SPEND ALL OF THIS TIME TRAVELING AROUND
OF THIS TIME TRAVELING AROUND THE WORLD IT TO GET IT JUST
THE WORLD IT TO GET IT JUST RIGHT.
RIGHT. >> I HAVE DISCOVERED SOMETHING
>> I HAVE DISCOVERED SOMETHING THAT I TRULY BELIEVE CAN IMPROVE
THAT I TRULY BELIEVE CAN IMPROVE THE HUMAN CONDITION, THE SECRET
THE HUMAN CONDITION, THE SECRET TO EATING FOR LONGEVITY IS TO
TO EATING FOR LONGEVITY IS TO EAT SIMPLE FOODS EVERY DAY FOR
EAT SIMPLE FOODS EVERY DAY FOR YEARS OR DECADES.
YEARS OR DECADES. LIKE PEOPLE IN THE BLUE ZONES
LIKE PEOPLE IN THE BLUE ZONES DO.
DO. >> WELL, THE WOMEN WE TALKED TO
>> WELL, THE WOMEN WE TALKED TO SAW THE MOST DRAMATIC CHANGE,
SAW THE MOST DRAMATIC CHANGE, EVERYONE WHO STUCK WITH THE
EVERYONE WHO STUCK WITH THE PROGRAM FOR THREE MONTHS ALSO
PROGRAM FOR THREE MONTHS ALSO REPORTED WEIGHT LOSS, BUT I
REPORTED WEIGHT LOSS, BUT I THINK THE THING THAT’S THE MOST
THINK THE THING THAT’S THE MOST EXCITING TO ME IS THAT THEY ALL
EXCITING TO ME IS THAT THEY ALL REPORTED KIND OF EMOTIONAL WELL
REPORTED KIND OF EMOTIONAL WELL BEING WENT UP.
BEING WENT UP. >> I LOVE THAT.
>> I LOVE THAT. I LOVE THE EMOTIONAL WELL BEING,
I LOVE THE EMOTIONAL WELL BEING, I MEAN, WE TALKED ABOUT THE
I MEAN, WE TALKED ABOUT THE CHOLESTEROL NUMBERS, THE BLOOD
CHOLESTEROL NUMBERS, THE BLOOD PRESSURE NUMBERS, AND ALL THAT
PRESSURE NUMBERS, AND ALL THAT STUFF.
STUFF. >> IT MAKES A TON OF SENSE.
>> IT MAKES A TON OF SENSE. >> I KIND OF WANT THAT BOOK
>> I KIND OF WANT THAT BOOK RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW. >> YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT.
>> YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT. >> I HAVE BEEN EATING A LOT OF
>> I HAVE BEEN EATING A LOT OF BEANS SINCE WE DID THIS STORY.
BEANS SINCE WE DID THIS STORY. IT’S ACTUALLY PRETTY EASY TO
IT’S ACTUALLY PRETTY EASY TO INCORPORATE AND YOU KIND OF FIND
INCORPORATE AND YOU KIND OF FIND YOURSELF, YOU KNOW, EATING
YOURSELF, YOU KNOW, EATING LENTILS AND BROWN RICE, AND
LENTILS AND BROWN RICE, AND GOING, IT’S ACTUALLY MUCH BETTER
GOING, IT’S ACTUALLY MUCH BETTER THAN YOU THOUGHT.
THAN YOU THOUGHT. >> MARIA LIKES VERY SIMPLE
>> MARIA LIKES VERY SIMPLE FOODS.
FOODS. SHE DOESN’T LIKE ANYTHING FANCY.
SHE DOESN’T LIKE ANYTHING FANCY. >> WHATEVER MARIA IS DOING, WE
>> WHATEVER MARIA IS DOING, WE WANT TO DO.
WANT TO DO. YOU’RE OUR GURU.
YOU’RE OUR GURU. >> YOU CAN FIND THE BOOK, THE
>> YOU CAN FIND THE BOOK, THE BLUE ZONE’S KITCHEN ON
BLUE ZONE’S KITCHEN ON TODAY.COM/SHOP.
TODAY.COM/SHOP. TOMORROW, DAN WILL BE HERE IN