Scientist reacts to Blue Zones | Netflix | Live to 100

[@magistral5732]

Gil is the type of guy who never fools his viewers, even on April 1st

[@Alex-bl8uh]

😂

[@user-iy7lk7ig4h]

Yep, he's great.

[@roripantsu]

The april fools that there is none

[@joostgolsteyn3193]

Dream on 🙄

[@Nicksonian]

I was in prison when The Blue Zones came out. I was in charge of the non-fiction book section in my prison’s library (best job I’ve had in over a decade). I ordered the books and I included Blue Zones on my order…so I could read it. I loved the book. I’ve been out for five years and I’d be curious to see how often the book has been checked out. Since then I have bounced around nutritional advice and I’ve settled on Mediterranean and that lifestyle is represented in the Blue Zones. The greatest challenge for me is human connection. I lost nearly all of my friends and making new ones as a 60-something felon is challenging to say the least.

[@davidflorez1196]

Pets are also good friends

[@Nicksonian]

@@davidflorez1196 Thanks. Good point. I keep meaning to get a dog. Enough people encourage me, I’ll take the plunge. Haven’t had a dog since I was a teen.

[@satansalley6526]

All the best,mate🇭🇲

[@RHIMYM]

Have you tried to go to associations or activities to you would like? You could meet people there

[@dhouge59]

I'm sorry for your incarceration. Please read my comment.

[@FluxNomad678]

How about deliberately looking at zones that are the complete opposite of this with the shortest lifespans in for quality of Health. Exclude places from deaths from violence or War but focus on environmental ones. Identify the obvious causes and issues behind mortality in these places and then see how these same issues are expressed in the blue zones

[@WilliamRoscoe]

Has anyone noticed that Gil never asks anyone to like or subscribe? Given that he only needs another 1000 subscribers to reach a quarter of a million then this is amazing. We need more channels like this one, and I only discovered it by chance early last year, so we should do what we can to spread the word.

[@Joseph1NJ]

Nope, nothing in the digital world is by chance. You just think you have free will.

[@user-iy7lk7ig4h]

​@@Joseph1NJ So who made you make this comment?

[@Joseph1NJ]

@@user-iy7lk7ig4h AI

[@Joseph1NJ]

@@user-iy7lk7ig4h The AI

[@Joseph1NJ]

@@user-iy7lk7ig4h The AI

[@callmeishmael3031]

I’m so glad I found your channel. It makes me realize how rudderless I’ve been navigating through the quagmire that is health information on the internet. One wind could blow me one way, and another one the other way, when the true course is an unbiased following of the science and the actual evidence.

[@zynga726]

Same thing happened to me. I was stuck on one got that was a doctor but giving unscientific advice. Luckily KZbin recommended this one and I noticed my error right away. This one is very scientific.

[@gregorycochran2061]

My favorite part of his channel is nuance. He does not say no thing is better than another, but presents the evidence for why something may be better but then says you are an adult and can make your own choices.

[@kelliea5729]

So sad that in today's world we are not encouraged to connect or eat well. It's all about fast food and isolation and creating hatred between groups rather than love and acceptance. I believe this is a large part of the success of those who live in the blue zones. Thanks Gil for another great video. Your point about the climate is valid. I know personally speaking, when it's warm and sunny and we are able to grow our own vegetables in the summer/fall seasons, my spirit is lifted.

[@user-iy7lk7ig4h]

I have recently found your channel. I find your fairness, empathy, compassion, and overall disposition quite refreshing. Thank you.

[@Jan-Jan-Jan]

Your way striking a balance between being strict and being understanding is a rare gem online. This content is highly appreciated. Thank you.

[@nureddinz]

Another common thing about those zones are they are all close to the edges of tectonic plates where the soil is very rich with minerals. Everything grown there will be very nutritious.

[@adrianavram4911]

I said the same thing--the local food they eat is full of rare minerals missing for most industrial agriculture

[@Stephanie-vn6ir]

No danm pesticides!🤬

[@mosfet500]

People obsessing about how long they live is shortening their lives! It's not how long you live, it's how well you live. How happy are you as an individual? That's the question each person has to ask themselves. At almost 80 and in perfect health what worked for me is excitement about living and loving, no junk food, low apoB, moderate exercise and a wonderful relationship with my wife. Caring, very important - knowing someone truly cares about your wellbeing who you enjoy being with, who you see everyday as a new person. We keep looking for some magic bullet, some superfood, that's the super food, loving and being loved.

[@steveleeart]

The film shows that all the characteristics you mention are practiced by those in the documentary.

[@ThingsYoudontwanttohear]

Too many people try to biohack their way to health and just end up with orthorexia and empty wallets. We need more people pointing out that a healthy life does not require obsession.

[@ns1extreme]

Many people also worry themselves into an early grave about love and finding "the one" too.

[@dhouge59]

Exactly. And you don't force it on people.

[@Rusty69-er]

Transcending the goods of the world - and they are good up to a point - but we cling to what is impermanent , including our health. True joy in the present comes from selfless giving of love, friendship , helpfulness and finally accepting that all things pass away

[@LauraPazzaglia]

My companion's mother is 100, she is Neapolitan by birth but has spent most of her life in Ostia, Italy (a sub-division of Rome). If I were to follow what she's doing to get to 100 I'd have to read voraciously, do cross-word puzzles, complain most of the day and treat my children who visit me daily like shit, smoke a cigarette a day, and have a dinner of fresh cheese, bread. But who knows what is really working.. maybe it's her negative attitude and outlook on life. She did say she was tiered of living once, a few years ago, and stopped her thyroid and blood pressure medicine. It lasted less than week as she got scared and started up on the pills again because she wasn't feeling well. Ciao from Italy! L

[@robynanna7236]

I love, love love your comment!! And maybe some of what she is doing is sensible, but I imagine you must wonder whether part of her her longevity is because she literally sucks the life out of other people :)

[@LauraPazzaglia]

@@robynanna7236 Hahahaha! That must be it. Thanks for your reply! Ciao, L

[@jacklan4103]

Survivor bias

[@classicgameplay10]

is she very thin ?

[@LauraPazzaglia]

@classicgameplay10 No, she's a bit puffy. She doesn't leave the house as of the last two years because she's embarrassed to be seen with a walker. But she rides a pedal pushing thing for 30 minutes a day. For breakfast, she has a cup of plain yogurt and four slices of white bread toast with 30% fruit apricot jam and an espresso. At least for her it's NOT a low-calorie and sugar-free lifestyle that keeps her going. Ciao, L

[@barkupatree6871]

One of the best channels on KZbin, Gil. Much appreciated!

[@jimbailey6499]

A couple of comments: 1) you are absolutely correct in pointing out that the age of 100 is really an arbitrary number and focusing on average lifespan is far more informative; that leads to my second point -- 2) I would bet that the reason Monaco has such a high average lifespan is because the very wealthy population has access to the best health care money can buy, and for the same reason, they probably have a very low stress level. My advice: have a lot of money from an early age; that will allow you to play tennis or polo or swim in your pool, get the best medical care, and you can relax and do whatever you want all day. Even if you don't live to 100, you'll have a very nice life. Getting that money early is definitely a challenge, though.

[@EvelynBaron]

Believe it or not my godmother is the only person I've ever met born in Monaco who married my Dad's best friend whom he saved in WW2 also shot in the back and got everyone to the Herzegovina mountains and then Britain. I can't imagine wanting to live to 100 ... or worse going to Mars with Elon Musk that cretin sorry got carried away. I am 68 now and my physical health is important to me because I have one small dog I love more than life itself.

[@Joseph1NJ]

And sadly then there's king Charles. Money and wealth can't always buy you health.

[@davidflorez1196]

I wonder why Japan has a high life expectancy meanwhile being one of the most stressful countries

[@jimbailey6499]

why do you think living in Japan is stressful? I found it quite calm when I lived there.

[@joezawinulreviewsandreacti2509]

Hold up, most people in these zones aren't rich though

[@mikew6840]

Level-headed, well considered commentary from Dr Gil. Keeping it real and respectful. Keep up the great work, Dr Mike

[@MedlifeCrisis]

Great breakdown. I think I’ll watch the show, but see it more as entertainment. Excellent lessons to take on board but remembering there’s so much survivorship bias at play is key to not worrying yourself that you’re not doing things “right”. You gave a very fair assessment, and the Blue Zone Project does indeed sound admirable.

[@RogerHyam]

Nobody mentions communicable diseases. Plenty of people used to have blue zone lifestyles but back then they would die of communicable diseases. Living somewhere relatively isolated with good air and water then reaching the point where we have antibiotics is probably the key. I think of my mother who might well be in her 90s now (her mother loved to 97) but she died in her 70s from effects of TB she had in her 20s - in the 1940s prior to streptomycin. If she hadn't been on crowded trains in a cold country it might have been different.

[@auntyjo1792]

My dad died of heart valve failure, probably due to scarlet fever as a child living in poor, urban northern Europe.

[@rickjames9866]

Very true

[@Alkis05]

​@@auntyjo1792 Heart disease is the leading cause of death. Its just acumulated body damage also non as aging.

[@hanksimon1023]

The Delany sisters were super centenarians that may fit the Blue Zone parameters. In contrast, there were some ex-slaves who lived to be more than 100, as well as some holocaust survivors, so stress and hormesis may be a factor. My own pet theory is that people who lived through stress, and continue to persevere with a little stress, build up the capabilities and reserves to continue to recover into extreme agedness. In other words, it's not the people who live a charmed life, but the ones who live a bumpy life, but adapt to glide over the bumps. ;-) I'm working on that philosophy... because I sure haven't led a charmed life, although I try to live as if I had, and still do. ;-)

[@aenab.4596]

The lack of calories, and specifically calories from animal protein, plays a part. As far as I know the body will go into conservation mode and repair and reuse what it already has, and this is good for longevity.

[@Chicagogrl]

I feel like I could have a daily cup of coffee with Gil. He's so down to earth...confirmed by his good-bye wave.

[@nickcranham2006]

Absolutely love your "no one size fits all" approach and how you keep a broad spectrum and have the patience and intelligence to listen to all perspectives. Keep up the great work Gil you're doing great.

[@cathymushock8412]

So considered and thorough. Best health channel on the internet.

[@markd390]

Thanks for your analysis. I love the way you dig into things and give a perspective that's scientific, open-minded, and with a critical eye. This is wonderful to see.

[@Jeffs60]

There are about 4000 centenarians in those blue zones and almost all of them are short which no one mentioned, but that is less than one percent of the total centenarians of 500,000 in the world.

[@keithbarbaro7590]

Good point. Northern Europeans are tall and don't live as long.

[@stargazerbird]

People shrink a lot as they get to their nineties. My mum, who lived till 95 and still independent until the last month used to be a tall women for her generation and she got so little towards the end it’s shocking.

[@Ryan-wx1bi]

​@@stargazerbird it's more posture related than it is shrinking

[@KasKade7]

Short people age slower. This has been proven. Ofcourse, that does not mean dwarfism. They also tend to look younger, which again points to slower aging. Unfortunately, the opposite is also true. Tall people age faster.

[@brucejensen3081]

Yep. That why I am more interested in the Netherlands, not that I can find much. Tallest people in the world, and one of the longest lived people.

[@SiriusStarGazer]

Love your analysis of the blue zone. I couldn't agree with you more. Practical , realistic and logical.Dan's biggest achievement is indeed getting people to live healthier, richer lives.

[@plantstho6599]

Socio-economic status as a factor of longevity would be interesting to see. I think Monaco would be correlated with this. But also with the blue zones. They may or may not have large sums of debt hanging over their head. Even if they do, they worry less about it because they have strong familial ties and value community and work ethic over servicing an inhumane economy. People here in the west are obese because they're traumatized by the amount of debt and work 6 jobs just to make ends meet. This leads to poor decisions in convenient food options leading to poor health... and it's a downward spiral all stemming from the stress caused by debt. Nobody ever questions the impact the economic system has on our health, it must be diet and lifestyle.... anything BUT the economy.

[@KasKade7]

Chronic stress is the #1 killer for sure.

[@annoyedaussie3942]

There's definitely a correlation with socio-economic status. There's also a correlation but not completely with wealth disparities within a country. The higher the wealth disparity the lower the life expectancy with US having the largest wealth gap and lowest life expectancy of a wealthy country.

[@richarddias8415]

I really appreciate Gils unaccusatory middle of the road and scientific approach. Always look forward to your videos my guy 🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@BobSmith-fx9sz]

My grandparents' neighbours are centenarians and can still walk unaided, do puzzles, etc. However, they don't live in a romantic part of the world and so I doubt they'll get much airtime!

[@liiightoriginal9949]

They won’t get airtime because they don’t live in a blue zone, nothing to do with romantic settings. There’s centenarians everywhere, that’s not the point of the video.

[@cjaquilino]

@@liiightoriginal9949@4:50

[@turntablesrockmyworld9315]

It's not that they don't exist here it would but rather the frequency of occurrence as compared to other populations which is still very very very low. For example, it would be 5 per capita here vs. 50 per capita in Sardinia which statistically is very relevant.

[@tinyjungle_]

Anecdotes get way more exposure/airtime in our culture, so I respectfully disagree with this assertion. Our culture romanticizes the anecdote.

[@rubenuribe]

Loma Linda, CA isn’t a romantic part of the world imo. It’s like a regular suburb.

[@BMB57]

Meanwhile I am 30 with arthritis and completely bald. Been stressed out since I had to start taking care of myself (emotionally) at 10 years old. Seems stress is the key take away.

[@crystal5195]

Love you, Gil! Always so informative!

[@davidtyler3116]

One of the great tragedies of life is the murder of a beautiful theory by a gang of brutal facts. - Benjamin Franklin

[@slidebean]

@Gil, we're working on a field documentary about the Nicoya Blue Zone, especially focused on the 'questionable' conclusions and the impact of tourism in the area. We'd love to chat with you about it, and hopefully feature that in the video. If not, at the very least, grab a couple of snippets from this video.

[@NutritionMadeSimple]

sure, you can msg thru the fb page facebook.com/DrGilCarvalho/

[@Etcetheral]

Thank you for the sanity! You are one of the very best nutrition channels. Thank you

[@stylianosrallidis6612]

Great video. I look forward to all of your videos to enrich my knowledge as a medical student.

[@Nhkg17]

Netflix has so many terrible documentaries on almost any topic that I don't trust their documentaries at all. It is a terrible mistake to try to get any information from a Netflix documentary. If something in the documentary is true, it's more of a coincidence than an effort by the creators to provide the most accurate information.

[@garycochran8544]

Examples?

[@tinyjungle_]

It's probably a terrible mistake to form any solid beliefs from any Documentary on any platform..

[@Ryan-wx1bi]

I guess we can just throw away all documentaries ever made

[@Nhkg17]

@@garycochran8544 History: Ancient Apocalypse (Graham Hancock) Aircraft accidents: MH370: The Plane That Disappeared Health: The Magic Pill ... Netflix is interested in the number of views. The veracity of the information is completely irrelevant to them and no one checks individual authors to see if they are making complete fabrications.

[@ns1extreme]

That's true for most documentaries. The purpose of a documentary isn't really education, more to get you interested in a topic. If you want factual information you have to actually put in some effort by reading books/studies critically.

[@19Jetta]

In life expectancy, the country I feel no one really talks about...is Switzerland. The place with (last I checked) the highest chocolate consumption per capita in the world and also the inventors of fondue. Yet they consistently rank in the top 10 of life expectancy. Why? The Swiss are outdoorsy in winter and summer, at least from what I remember visiting. But I don't recall them eating an inordinate amount of veggies, nor seafood, nor being religious. I feel like, as you say, the Swiss don't fit the agenda of a particular diet someone wants to push (vegan, keto, etc) so they are ignored.

[@davescott1491]

Great assessment Gil. The blue zones have become an excellent framework for those who want to live to better lives; and there is much to learn from. Sustaining healthy habits through diet, by living spiritually, deliberately, mindfully, gratefully and staying very active is critical.

[@waynegolding14]

I love it Gil. I watched the show and I had thoughts similar to yours. I always love hearing your take. Thanks 😊

[@mardukevii9180]

Great advice and helpful thoughts. Thank you!! I liked how you outroed there, keep it up!

[@ok373737]

As always, the best insights we can ask.

[@diviajar1411]

Gil, espero que a sua mãe esteja bem melhor. Nao sei do que ela sofre, mas assisti um video de uma entrevista que deu ao Plant Chompers e voce falou dela com muito carinho. Minha propria maezinha está mal. Sei como doi. Saúde para vocês.🌻

[@classicgameplay10]

um comentario em portugues.

[@joerockhead7246]

great take. thank you.

[@VladdyDaddy369]

Fantastic overview, sir!

[@hordechess7629]

aside from the four tenants of movement/purpose/diet/connection, i think the secret behind the blue zones is indeed something weather related. being on an island, being closer to nature (and healthier technology/infrastructure), the lack of consumerism, stuff like that, its gonna positively shape your image of reality

[@aroundandround]

It’s easy for any scientist to see through Buettner’s unscientific “feel good sounding” message.

[@tomm9584]

What about Singapore? Singapore has just been named the 6th Blue Zone in the world. This means that Singapore is regarded as one of the cities with the highest life expectancy across the globe. Singapore was added to the list in August by Dan Buettner, an American National Geographic Fellow and New York Times-bestselling author who has been studying the world's Blue Zones for over two decades.

[@larryc1616]

+Hong Kong 7th

[@stargazerbird]

I have been living in Singapore for nearly ten years. I am not surprised they do well. The government is a proper nanny state with the welfare of the citizens at top priority. Healthcare is good and free at point of use. Food is available everywhere that is home cooked quality made from scratch and cheap because the food courts and hawker centres are subsidised and inspected. Public transport is fantastic and most of us walk a lot to get around. Life is lived outdoors all year round because it is so warm, like all the other blue zones. Crime is low and it is famously safe, if bland. There is also a real sense of national identity as it so small and such a young country. I love the place. When I moved there from the uk I dropped 28 pounds in a couple of years, took up running and swam every week. I also pretty much gave up alcohol and drink tea instead. Binge drinking is frowned on there. That’s what the Westerners do.

[@longyang888]

@@stargazerbird "Food is available everywhere that is home cooked quality made from scratch and cheap because the food courts and hawker centres are subsidised and inspected" Most SG eat food from food courts which are not the same as home cooked food quality.

[@adrianavram4911]

@@longyang888 food from food courts is better quality than your home cooking there -bc they compete and are small restaurants proud of their reputation opposite than corporate usa

[@peterz53]

Prof. Gary Fraser's long term work on the diet and looking at Loma Linda (Adventists) is more compelling being more analytical. Suggest catching his recent discussion on Simon Hill's podcast. It's telling that the effect goes away when modern junk food moves in, as in Okinawa. So, if anything else, stay away from US based processed foods.

[@antoinetteblair4]

Wow! Gill! Very well said! I completely agree with you! Thank you for sharing this with us ❤️

[@andrearamlochan8625]

I come from a lineage of centenarians in Trinidad and Tobago and we’re Indians and i have to say physical work and diet is a hugeeee role

[@goodmusic60s]

I wish we had bike and walk sidewalks everywhere. You would get some sunlight and exercise just to walk to the grocery store.

[@dms8504]

One of your best videos, Gil 👏

[@SuperAngelic5]

The show is definitely informative. Lots of anecdotal evidence. To me, the biggest lessons are to stay physically active and avoid processed foods. No doubt that climate has something to do with it.

[@jackjhmc820]

Hong kong was placed at 7th place, where Forty-seven out of every 100,000 city residents were centenarians in 2020. Not quite at the same longitude as blue zones but has fairly warm weather all year round and temperatures rarely drop below 10 degrees.

[@KasKade7]

I heard Hong Kong has some of the best healthcare in the world. Espeacially, when you're not poor.

[@guy3409]

People in Hong Kong spend little time outdoors - although it has spectacular countryside, most people live an urban lifestyle, plus it is hot & humid in the summer. People are much less interested in being out in the sun than in western countries.

[@jackjhmc820]

@guy3409 i m from hong kong , so I would imagine I know most elderly here walk a lot more than others as subways are the main public transport. There are many shopping malls, all indoor, and there s little need to be that keen to expose ourselves in the sun like in say Britain where it s hard to get a sunny day. Lately hundreds of thousands of elderly over 65 are travelling to shenzhen as their bus fares from government subsidies meant they only cost 2 hkd per trip, or less than 0.25 USD? There s huge incentives for elderly to travel and walk around the cities, so I think most get at least 7000 steps or more.

[@mariomenezes1153]

Brilliant analysis! Thank you!

[@nicholashariades4611]

Thanks Gil. As usual a great video.

[@MisterHowzat]

Another fantastic overview. Thank you!

[@Dan16673]

The commonalities are super interesting

[@Themata]

Don't expect it'll get mentioned, but one key aspect is they're small communities where everyone knows each other. Older people enjoy their days, they _want to_ live longer

[@Themata]

I see at 3:17 I was wrong (or right maybe) 😉

[@janejustin1788]

thay was mentioned severally, rural small communities/connect/religion/living close to family.

[@lindacgrace2973]

I heard an interesting speculation: yes, the habits that Dan Beutner correlated are foundational; but all of the Blue Zones live in hard water areas. Hard water (without chlorination) means mineral-rich water. The well-mineralized diets of the Blue Zones bay be a contributing factor, as well. Just a thought.

[@yargundev9772]

The medical medium realized the most important factor in blue zones rongevity. People in blue zones are less exposed to pathogens due to less transmission as these communities are relatively isolated. Viruses are the culprits behind almost all disease.

[@LinusBerglund]

I don't understand how someone living in Portugal can romanticise over other places. I spent 3 months in Portugal two summers ago and by god was it beautiful.

[@Jason-fp7vi]

There are no jobs and minimum wage is very low in Portugal 🇵🇹 tristeza

[@brendasears9650]

Thought-provoking commentary on a thought-provoking topic. Well done! ❤

[@ziv2liv]

Thank you for bringing us down to earth. I have long believed that there is no one magic formula to longevity, not even the Blue Zones. Sure, eating reasonably healthy, staying away from fast and process food is important and maintaining physical activity is important as well, but overall, living an emotional and mental healthy life, life with minimal cortisol inducing life is equally important. Maintaining good relationship is utterly important.

[@SatipatthanaSakuraDragona]

I think Loma Linda (sp?) as a blue zone is the most interesting finding. These people are not genetically similar, but they're pretty much the same as the other blue zones. It seems like it's showing that there's a roughly stable number of "lucky" humans throughout every population who could reach 100+ if they were just in the right environment with the right habits, so all that's happened in all these blue zones is that the number of potential centenarians were maxxed out. To put it another way, most of the people in those environments lived up to their genetic potential, but had they been in another environment with different habits, they would not have lived up to their genetic potential. So the rest of the world where people are not doing all the right things, is just people tending to die early (much earlier in some places) and not reach their potential maximum longevity. It's probably not much deeper than that. I suspect your genes dictate your maximum lifespan. If you don't die early from an accident, eat well, stay active, have a purpose, etc., you'll probably reach 95% of that potential longevity. If you try to min/max things, maybe you live an extra six months. I don't think it's much more than that, and I don't think an extra six months is worth it. Just do your best to age in as happy, healthy, graceful, and still physically and mentally active way for as long as you can through reasonable and sustainable habits - not like whatever that Bryan Johnson Blueprint guy is doing.

[@peggykey5570]

Love all your explanations.

[@azdhan]

Really interesting. Many thanks for sharing Dr Carvalho

[@dewdew34]

Sunny warm weather, clean air, fresh food, few if any bad habits, exercise, social activity and movement. Weather affects mood and activity level , a huge factor i see as i live in an increasingly dreary, wet and overcast east coast. When i visit my family in Florida near the ocean and walk my pup in 60-70 degree weather in January i get it, snowbirds are right. Then i get home and it's 34 and blowing a gale...

[@vansan3211]

I just watched this documentary last night and really enjoyed it. It was certainly well-made. I immediately thought how all of the towns were coastal as well in addition to relatively warm climates--something that wasn't mentioned at all as a correlation. Interesting... although their test city was in Minnesota which is a very different climate from the traditional Blue Zones. You make good points. I will add that regarding his wine comment, the health comments were only in relation to the specifically Ikarian wine that was made underground for hundreds of years, soaking up the mineral content of the soil, etc. Dan acknowledged that alcohol is usually not a recipe for longevity, but also stated that our modern and Western process for wine-making is quite unhealthy with additives, etc, in addition to the alcohol, creating zero health benefit. I don't drink alcohol at all, but if I were in Ikaria, I'd probably drink it daily with dinner. Notice, wine or alcohol was not a correlated topic when he visited Loma Linda or when they were working with the Minnesota town.

[@greentree_]

They’re all coastal places, relying a lot on fish, plus other nutrients come from the ocean.

[@turntablesrockmyworld9315]

Great analysis. The problem is of course, that perhaps there are no commonalities and we have gone looking for things that aren't there. One big criticism you have brought up that I've had for years (I have a background in nutrition) is that the frequency of occurrence of centenarians may be high as compared to other places but as compared to the population is very very low, meaning that even if there is something to it, there is little-to-nothing to generalise for our health beyond the usual. It is far better to look at average life expectancy and quality of disease outcomes, disease rates and patterns. Most of it appears to be wishful thinking beyond moving more and eating less, and eating less junk.

[@adelabdelaziz-zh4zh]

what about a video discussing the china study book as the biggest study ever conducted and it is another example of the ecological data comes this time from the great china and its population should we consider it Gil ?

[@Santa-ny1yp]

I think this is your best video.

[@classicgameplay10]

5:57 I heard that subtropical climate areas have a higher life expectance on average than all other climates. That also probably plays a huge factor, because in climates where we have days too hot or too cold, elderly people and babies have a much higher chance of dying.

[@wpmitra7251]

All blue zones are in the coastal regions. Sea food could be a key.

[@keithdow8327]

I think all blue zones are near an ocean may be a factor. The temperature variation may not be much.

[@stargazerbird]

And warm year round

[@JO-qn8gy]

Vitamin D from the sun

[@astronaute]

There might be many compounding factors, as it is usually the case. I agree that living near the sea probably contributes to the happiness. There is a reason people usually go on vacations somewhere on the coast.

[@Elusive_Reclusive]

This is such a well balanced take. My skepticism was heightened watching this doc because, although I didn’t disagree with most of the advice, the minute he said “being religious makes you live longer”, I immediately pulled out my phone to see how backed the California research, it was most 7th Day Adventists. Hmmm seems biased no? There is a small segment about regular doctor visits, but it’s SMALL in comparison to how much is focused on food. Genetics and seeing a doctor regularly are HUGE huge parts of wellness and they are barley touched on

[@michaelmackey754]

I always enjoy seeing your videos!

[@NinjaAirBike]

We generally don't have access to high quality ingredients, including wine. Most "wine" is just chemically processed grapes. Most of the research on food is performed with these adulterated products.

[@a_woman_who_loves_to_lift]

Beautifully shot video. Professionally edited, with seamless transitions and stunning nature views interspersed with meaningful scenes punctuating his talking points. Artful visuals and a narrator with a delicious voice delivering critical thinking and astute insights. Gil, your channel shines among the finest. Thank you for your content! I live in an area with the same latitude as the Blue Zones. In a small, traditional community near the mountains (11K feet), a few large families (9-12 children) were born between 1912 and 1935. Some people in these families are still alive, and others lived past 100, with the oldest being 105.

[@stevet6676]

Personally, I wouldn't be negative on the conclusions of the blue zones even if they are a bit simplistic. Certainly seems better the the average American lifestyle. Interesting observation you made about proximity to the equator. I live in Colorado and I certainly feel better in summer than winter. Warmer weather, more outdoor activity, eating more local in season fruits and vegetables. In general I'm happier in summer! A somewhat more simplistic argument has been made for the role of Vitamin D to prevent a host of illnesses like MS and breast cancers. The observation that MS and breast cancer in increases as one moves further north from the equator was attributed to the lack of vitamin D. Maybe. Maybe the feeling of well being, lack of fresh produce, etc. are factors as well.

[@acke26]

the common factor is closeness to the sea = seafood Psychological harmony is another factor

[@ChannelSRL1]

My bet is that consistent low grade activity, a moderate diet, and low stress are the most important factors.

[@DrTomMD]

Excellent analysis. Having been to both Nicoya Costa Rica and Sardinia,, specifically to be part of the PBS film “Embrace of Aging“, which included Dan Buettner, I agree with much of what Dr. Jill is saying. In fact, the most impressive blue zone to me is not one based on concentration of centenarians, but the higher life expectancy in the United States. And in fact it is not Loma Linda. It really applies to the Seventh-day Adventists of California in general. And they share no genetic commonalities whatsoever. They are widely varying in ethnicities which makes them particularly impressive. The lowest rates of mortality are among the pescatarians and they have very little alcohol intake.

[@sebastianmatula1234]

Thanks for your honest feedback about the Blue Zones. For me personally, the religious group Seventh-day Adventist Christians in Loma Linda are fascinating. That group does not have the genetic background in common, only the lifestyle factors and where they live. Would be interesting to see if you could make a similar review of the Adventist Study Research project and to see your opinion.

[@austinwilliams1228]

What Dan did was only the first step in the scientific process: creating a hypothesis. Now it needs to be tested.

[@waynehiebert3801]

Another superb video ...

[@newyorkguy158]

Ask any Japanese person what is the key to living a long life and they will say leaving the table 80% full. It's a form of calorie restriction, isn't it? Not so easy to achieve. 1972-73, there was a study in Japan of the diets of 100 centenarians. I think it was in Okinawa, but don't recall clearly. You can google it. Study found that there were no vegetarians or vegans. This surprised a researcher. People were eating, meat, fish, eggs, milk and vegetables. Probably rice too, but wasn't mentioned. The researcher thought the calcium in milk was responsible for their longevity. My friend in Tokyo told me that they were not eating green, leafy vegetables- they didn't have them. They ate root vegetables. Meat has always been extremely expensive in Japan, because they don't raise cattle there. So Japanese people ate very small amounts of meat, almost as a garnish. But they were not vegetarians or vegans. People are wealthier today, so they may be eating more meat. And also the fast food invasion has taken placed, McDonalds, etc.

[@Jeffs60]

The study was called "Nutrition for the Japanese elderly" and was done before fast food got to Okinawa. 50% of fats and proteins came from animal foods and the BMI was about 22-23. Typical total cholesterol was about 210 mg/dL. They had superb health.

[@hctim96]

Great vid, thanks..

[@dnmurr5128]

Gil, what about 30 - 35 degrees BELOW (SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE) islands, etc???

[@avivbrina]

Zeroing in on a point: I think health expectancy is not a very good metric, because it is biased heavily by child and youth deaths due to wars, malnutrition, accidents and communicable diseases. Even adjusting to these factors might be biased, as the relationship between dying from those to life expectancy (eg maybe health at youth correlates with longevity, and only healthy people go to war, thus excluding them would show a lower natural life expectancy than it is in reality). That is not to say that other metrics are superior.

[@anne-louisegoldie]

What are the minerals that people have referred to as being a possible factor? Which minerals matter most, or is it a mix of many? I don't live near tectonic plates or oceans. Thank you in advance 😊xx

[@britfrancis4967]

I heard that you can’t rely on the accuracy of actual ages in Blue Zones since record keeping in some areas in the past was not recorded well. Any thoughts?

[@jicalzad]

yeah, i agree; however, if they're only off by around 5-7 years, then i would still consider that a good amount of longevity, at least by American standards.

[@britfrancis4967]

@@jicalzad agreed!

[@kervinng2107]

Ang galing talaga neto ni Gil. isa sa mga pinapakingan ko. ebidensya ang besehan

[@Rfpepe7295]

The idea of wine helping you live longer is because wine is usually drank in social settings and with friends, It isn’t the literal wine that helps, it is the combination of relaxation and spending time with friends and just being HAPPY and we all know that wine makes you happy

[@mattlevault5140]

Good talk. Love your sweater...

[@tr1ckster726]

Gil is the best, period. Cut through the fluff and the grandiose statements and just evaluate the actual data!

[@poppyred7865]

I enjoyed the documentary, found it interesting. It’s important to me to live a healthy life more than a long life with ill health. These type of shows can give you some pointers on how to possibly achieve this, cheaply and not like the bio hackers who are paying a fortune for special diets, supplements, treatments. Many people are living longer but with a long term condition of some sort that will hinder their life. For me it’s important to live a healthy life and to look after yourself as much as possible to Prevent living with illness or pain as we age.

[@MS-sr6mj]

Thank you, Gil!

[@TheronHayes-g9z]

Great episode. @Gil have you ever done an episode on Ancel Keys? Would be interested to hear your unbiased opinion

[@DessertcrazyEcuador]

Vilcabamba, Ecuador was touted as a blue zone for years. Turns out it’s not. Culturally, age is greatly revered in Ecuador. So as a sign of respect, people were adding on years to people considered very wise. So some of the 100 year olds were really 88.

[@JR-wi8qh]

The horseback rider dude is going to outlive me, and I'm 44

[@dannyspitzer1267]

Can you react to "The Big Fat Lie", even though it's not new? That one needs to be called out...thank you

[@MisterHowzat]

Or "The Big Fat Surprise"?