Fact: Life expectancy in the United States hovers around 77.5 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with women living an average of 80 years and men an average of 74.8.
Fact: The average American consumes more than 3,800 calories a day according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture when on average we should consume 1,600 and 3,000 calories a day.
Fact: And we have a 39% risk of developing some type of cancer during our lives, according to the American Cancer Society.
These statistics are in stark contrast to people who live in the so-called Blue Zones – areas in the world where residents live an unusually long time and have lower rates of chronic diseases.
In the Blue Zones people live well into their 90s and even past 100. They consume far fewer calories a day than in the United States, and there are lower rates of cancer and other chronic diseases.
But why? The experts at the CyberKnife Center of Miami, a state-of-the-art radiation treatment center for cancer, take a closer look.
Understanding Blue Zones
Blue Zone was coined by an author named Dan Buettner while studying longevity. And there are five places in the world considered Blue Zones:
Icaria, Greece: Residents here eat a Mediterranean diet consisting of fresh produce, whole grains, olive oil and red wine.
Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica: People in this region eat corn tortillas and beans, and they also do physical jobs even as they age.
Ogliastra, Sardina: This is a mountainous region of Italy where daily life consists of farm work, and it’s home to some of the world’s oldest living men.
Okinawa, Japan: Home to some of the world’s oldest living women, where people eat a soy-based diet and practice tai chi, a form of meditative exercise.
The Seventh-day Adventists in Loma Linda, California: The Seventh-day Adventists are very religious and stick to a strictly vegetarian diet.
Blue Zone Longevity Decoded
Diet: Those living in Blue Zones eat more fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts and whole grains. They eat less meat and far less processed foods than we consume in the United States. They also eat fewer calories, which according to some studies, increases longevity.
Alcohol: Citizens of the Blue Zones also consume less alcohol than Americans. And even when wine is consumed, like in Sardina, it has high levels of antioxidants.
Exercise: Plus, those who live in Blue Zones stay active. They may not run marathons or do Pilates, but they get physical activity by walking, farming, gardening, working or through their other daily chores.
Sleep: Those living in Blue Zones get enough rest – either during the night or even by taking naps, which have been shown to improve overall health and longevity.
Spirituality: Finally, those living in Blue Zones tend to be religious or feel like they have a purpose in life. The older people also live amongst their younger relatives. Both of these can also impact longevity.
The takeaways for the average American: Simple changes to diet and exercise can boost your overall health. You also need to make sure you prioritize sleep and mental well-being. Finally, watching your alcohol consumption could be beneficial. We know this is easier said than done. But slow, small changes can make a difference and decrease your risk of cancer or other chronic diseases.
Keep in mind there are thirteen different cancers clearly linked to being overweight or obese, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Those include cancers of the colon and rectum, stomach, pancreas, gallbladder, liver, breast, thyroid, meningioma (a type of brain cancer), esophagus, cancer of the blood cells (multiple myeloma), kidney, uterus and ovaries. And they make up 40% of all cancers diagnosed each year in the United States alone. While cancers related to other factors decreased between 2005 and 2014, the rates of the cancers related to obesity increased.
CyberKnife Miami
And just why are the experts at CyberKnife Miami telling you about Blue Zones and how to lower your risk of cancer? Because we care. We want you to live long, healthy, cancer-free lives.
But If you are diagnosed with cancer and need radiation or a second opinion on treatment options, the experts at the CyberKnife Center of Miami, the premiere cancer treatment center in South Florida for non-invasive radiation therapy, are here to help you as well.
CyberKnife treats cancerous and non-cancerous tumors and other conditions where patients may need radiation using state-of-the-art technology called image guided linear accelerator to deliver precision stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).
CyberKnife can successfully treat cancers of the prostate, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas, head and neck, lymph nodes and brain as well as other metastatic cancers effectively killing the cancer and preventing it from returning.
CyberKnife Miami opened more than 20 years ago, and we were the first CyberKnife center to open in the Southeast, making us among the most experienced teams in the world.
If you would like to find out more about treatment with CyberKnife, call us now at 305-279-2900 or go to our website now for more information. www.cyberknifemiami.com