I think it is incredibly generous for this man to use his great talent of "never giving up" towards helping the world's population live to 100. However, from the beginning, his "facts" and "research" drove me bonkers and I only watched the entire series WAITING for at least one reference to genetics in association with longevity, or anything new! No such luck.
The show takes longevity statistics and then attributes high age to only a few factors (the usual), diet, exercise, etc. Etc. Yet almost completely ignores or "glosses over" ANY other cause of death, such as accidents, crime, environment or, even, genetic predisposition to disease.
I was frustrated because the first three Blue Zones were somewhat isolated islands. The people living there had lived for generations on the diet, in the climate, with the same stress levels and amount of physical activity needed in order to survive for MANY generations. The man who was dying at a young age in the US, yet lived to 100 when he went back home, I think, is an indicator that he was perfectly adapted to live in that environment, which had taken, perhaps 100's of years and many generations to achieve. What is or was good for them, is good for them because they are adapted to it. The fourth was a deeply religious "colony", in tune with the Lord and listening to His advice, in every aspect of their lives, daily.
Then, suddenly, these original Blue Zones "disappeared". Was this because the statistics changed when the islands became modernized? Were they changed because of more pollution, more automobiles, more accidents, more crime? Or perhaps they were changed because so many people, who were not genetically predisposed to this environment, lifestyle and diet were flooding into this Blue Zone, hoping to live to 100 "via the air" (which they were actively, if not intentionally ruining) This was never explained.
The "success" areas are glossed over as well. The Singapore example shows, to me, extreme control of someone's life ("the government encourages us to exercise") and no real purpose for their lives. What is their ikigai? Other than living to 100 and exercising. They are, in effect, a retirement city/state. How are they contributing to world? I think, it was proven in the original Blue Zones, that this is a key factor that is missing from the Singapore example. They need a reason to live, and "we" need a reason for them to live as well.
The Ft. Worth example, heralded as success in this film, was "glossed over" as well. I have had a look at the website, and I see only young people featured there. I think the project is enhancing their lives, but I am not sure they are concerned about many of their current residents living to 100.
I got the most benefit from the first episodes describing the naturally occurring Blue Zones. I feel that putting many of their practices in place in other communities will help everyone in the long run. But I do believe that there is not one solid answer for everyone everywhere.
The "answer" is BALANCE. The answer is in adapting our current lives (and bodies) to the environment we find ourselves in and the answer is always changing with time. Sometimes a HUGE change, all at once, is detrimental, rather than beneficial. But some of the suggestions are helping me help my mother live a happier life, for longer. For that I am grateful for this documentary and this incredibly driven (if somewhat "directionaly" challenged) man and is untiring efforts to help the world understand Blue Zones.
The show takes longevity statistics and then attributes high age to only a few factors (the usual), diet, exercise, etc. Etc. Yet almost completely ignores or "glosses over" ANY other cause of death, such as accidents, crime, environment or, even, genetic predisposition to disease.
I was frustrated because the first three Blue Zones were somewhat isolated islands. The people living there had lived for generations on the diet, in the climate, with the same stress levels and amount of physical activity needed in order to survive for MANY generations. The man who was dying at a young age in the US, yet lived to 100 when he went back home, I think, is an indicator that he was perfectly adapted to live in that environment, which had taken, perhaps 100's of years and many generations to achieve. What is or was good for them, is good for them because they are adapted to it. The fourth was a deeply religious "colony", in tune with the Lord and listening to His advice, in every aspect of their lives, daily.
Then, suddenly, these original Blue Zones "disappeared". Was this because the statistics changed when the islands became modernized? Were they changed because of more pollution, more automobiles, more accidents, more crime? Or perhaps they were changed because so many people, who were not genetically predisposed to this environment, lifestyle and diet were flooding into this Blue Zone, hoping to live to 100 "via the air" (which they were actively, if not intentionally ruining) This was never explained.
The "success" areas are glossed over as well. The Singapore example shows, to me, extreme control of someone's life ("the government encourages us to exercise") and no real purpose for their lives. What is their ikigai? Other than living to 100 and exercising. They are, in effect, a retirement city/state. How are they contributing to world? I think, it was proven in the original Blue Zones, that this is a key factor that is missing from the Singapore example. They need a reason to live, and "we" need a reason for them to live as well.
The Ft. Worth example, heralded as success in this film, was "glossed over" as well. I have had a look at the website, and I see only young people featured there. I think the project is enhancing their lives, but I am not sure they are concerned about many of their current residents living to 100.
I got the most benefit from the first episodes describing the naturally occurring Blue Zones. I feel that putting many of their practices in place in other communities will help everyone in the long run. But I do believe that there is not one solid answer for everyone everywhere.
The "answer" is BALANCE. The answer is in adapting our current lives (and bodies) to the environment we find ourselves in and the answer is always changing with time. Sometimes a HUGE change, all at once, is detrimental, rather than beneficial. But some of the suggestions are helping me help my mother live a happier life, for longer. For that I am grateful for this documentary and this incredibly driven (if somewhat "directionaly" challenged) man and is untiring efforts to help the world understand Blue Zones.