A report of the same title by Chew Hui Min of CNA, has the following summary:
- Singapore was recently named a Blue Zone 2.0, where people live longer and lead healthier lives. But unlike other Blue Zones where traditional ways of life have naturally led people to longevity, it is an “engineered” Blue Zone
- Health Minister Ong Ye Kung has said that the country should strive to be a Blue Zone 3.0
- Health & longevity experts weighed in on what has worked so far and how Singaporeans can lead healthier lives
What Are Blue Zones Traditionally
For starters, Blue Zones are places where people live longer & enjoy better health well into old age, resulting in higher concentration of people who live over 100 years old. There are 5 original Blue Zones in the world.
Studies have be done to study the lifestyles of the people living in the Blue Zones, through which 9 interconnected habits, coined "The Power 9", have been distilled.
The Power 9 – Habits To A Longer Life
It is noted that while each component is important, the key to put them into continuous practice is to build an ecosystem or lifestyle that integrates all 9 habits, so that they reinforce each other over the long term.
Tom Hottman of Sky Lakes Medical Center puts it this way, "It's more a philosophy to change your lifestyle; To eat better, stress less, move more & to do it with love."
More details of each habit are as follows:
- Move Naturally – Make physical activity (e.g. walking, gardening) a part of your daily routine so you don’t have to think about. There’s no need for intensive workouts
- Purpose – Having a purpose in life makes you happier & can add up to 7 years of life
- Down Shift – Build stress-relieving habits into your routine so your body can recover
- 80% Rule – Eat mindfully & stop eating when 80% full, the 20% difference can decide if you gain or lose weight
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Plant Slant – Eat more vegetables, beans, fruits & whole grains. Meat should be consumed in small amounts, if at all
- Wine At 5 – If you have a healthy relationship with alcohol, enjoy a glass of wine with good friends everyday
- Belong – Belonging to a faith community & attending services regularly can add up to 14 years of life
- Loved Ones First – Investing time in family can add up to 6 years of life
- Right Tribe – Surround yourself with people who reinforce Blue Zone values, habits & support you
Drilling further into the food choices of the Blue Zone population, the recommended food guidelines are as follows:
As we can see, replacing a certain portion of meat & dairy with wholesome, unprocessed vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts & grains is key to a healthy & long life.
This is exactly the intended social impact our brand-movement / company brings. Making health-bringing, wholesome food easily accessible is a key purpose for Grow Big Grow Home.
Through our offerings, namely The Freshest Greens, Rent-A-Farm & Grow System 157, we aim to bring the benefits of organic produce, maximum freshness & food self-sufficiency to everyone.
The benefits of an unprocessed plant-based diet has been widely documented. A popular documentary on this subject, The Game Changers, can be watched on Netflix.
Singapore – Blue Zone 2.0
Singapore has recently been named as the world's 6th Blue Zone.
Differing from traditional Blue Zones, the longevity of its people has been credited to public health policies, accessible health care & good social support from family & friends.
The CNA article goes on to describe how Singapore aims to go further to become Blue Zone 3.0, where the 10 years gap between health span & life span would be reduced so that the elderly would live out a more fulfilling life.
According to the Health Minister, this requires the healthy behaviours brought about by health policies & programs to evolve into lifestyle & habits – such as weaning off sugar & salt.
Other health experts interviewed pointed to diet, exercise & sleep as areas that Singapore citizens & residents can improve on.
Dr Laureen Wang, cardiologist & head of Alexandra Hospital's Well Programme said, "Rather than pursuing the next diet trend & obsessing about ingredient counts & calories, concentrate on moderation & sustainability. Include plenty of fresh vegetables & fruits, lean meat & unprocessed foods in one’s diet."
In line with these studies & recommendations, we encourage you to check out our fresh produce subscription, The Freshest Greens as well as Rent-A-Farm & Grow System 157, to start incorporating more fresh, organic vegetables & fruits into your lifestyle!
Notes:
This article expresses our perspective on a CNA news piece – https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/singapore-blue-zone-netflix-healthy-living-longevity-3848606