Blue Zone
Also known as: Blue Zones
A region with an unusually high concentration of people living to 100 or beyond, several of which follow Mediterranean-style eating patterns.
Blue Zones are geographic regions identified through demographic research as having an unusually high proportion of centenarians. The term was popularized by researcher Dan Buettner, who identified five original zones: Ikaria (Greece), Sardinia (Italy), Okinawa (Japan), Nicoya (Costa Rica), and Loma Linda (California).
Several of these regions, notably Ikaria and Sardinia, follow eating patterns closely related to the Mediterranean diet: olive oil as the primary fat, legumes and vegetables as dietary staples, and limited processed food.
In Practice
Ikarian diets typically include large amounts of olive oil, wild greens, legumes, and moderate wine, alongside physically active daily routines ... a combination researchers point to when discussing the region's longevity.
Worth Knowing
Blue Zone research is largely observational and has faced some scrutiny over data quality in specific regions. The dietary patterns are still broadly consistent with decades of separate, more rigorous research (like PREDIMED) on the Mediterranean diet's health effects.