Staying Healthy

Living in the Blue Zone

Blue Zones are said to boast the world's healthiest citizens. What can you learn from them?

By , Executive Editor, Harvard Men's Health Watch
  • Reviewed by Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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Map of the continents showing locations of Blue Zones: Loma Linda, CA; Okinawa, Japan; Ikaria, Greece; Sardinia, Italy; and Nikoya, Costa Rica.

In the early 2000s, researchers first identified what are known as Blue Zones, locations where residents have particularly healthy and long lives. (They were called Blue Zones because the researchers delineated them on a map with a blue marker.)

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About the Author

photo of Matthew Solan

Matthew Solan, Executive Editor, Harvard Men's Health Watch

Matthew Solan is the executive editor of Harvard Men’s Health Watch. He previously served as executive editor for UCLA Health’s Healthy Years and as a contributor to Duke Medicine’s Health News and Weill Cornell Medical College’s … See Full Bio
View all posts by Matthew Solan

About the Reviewer

photo of Howard E. LeWine, MD

Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing

Dr. Howard LeWine is a practicing internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Chief Medical Editor at Harvard Health Publishing, and editor in chief of Harvard Men’s Health Watch. See Full Bio
View all posts by Howard E. LeWine, MD
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