Community And Longevity

Orestis Portelos, age 97 from Greece, was interviewed for the Human Longevity Project (https://humanlongevityfilm.com/). He said, “‘Panigiria’ (a Greek festival celebrated during the summer months) is a tradition found from our ancestors. At that time, we had good ‘panigiria’, they were not as crowded as today. We were also organizing them for financial reasons. All the money we were gathering was used for the village’s needs. Even today, all these ‘panigiria’ are organized for this purpose. We are also having fun. We meet with people from other villages. I still go. As I told you earlier, I used to go with friends my age. Nowadays, most people going are young people. I meet with few people now, but I still go.”

It was nice to have good friends over this past weekend as we reminisced the warm, sunny weather we enjoyed in Florida. They shared with us all about the community of their second home. The wife described the close knit community of just a hundred homes. She said the ladies meet pretty much every week and even on the weekends. They have so many fun activities like cooking, exercise, and dancing classes. They even have frequent luau parties. The neighbors are so close that it’s common for neighbors to visit each other’s homes to help with any issues. It truly sounded like a wonderful community of living, learning, laughing, and loving.

This is what the elder Orestis Portelos was describing. Close bonds formed in communities are such commonplace for centenarians living in the Blue Zone areas. Human relationship is such a vital part of life and one of the primary foods that was taught at my nutrition school. You can be successful in health, career, spirituality, and other things but if you lack in the relationship department, you will struggle. It will be like trying to drive a car with a flat tire. Isn’t that what the human condition is all about? The human spirit begs to be loved, adored, and embraced.

On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate your relationships? And if it’s taken a back burner what can you do to improve it? It would be wise on our part to model our lives and indeed how we view our relationships after the people living in the Blue Zones. To your health and happiness!

Longevity For Our Families And Pets

For dog and pet owners, parents, and families, this one is for you. We can learn a lot about longevity from our elders.

Georgios Stenos, age 85 from Greece, was interviewed for the Longevity Human Project (https://humanlongevityfilm.com). “All of the Ikarians are trying not to buy products with pesticides and fertilizers. I only use animal manure which I get from people who raise animals and I use it for my plants.”

Ikaria is one of the highly regarded Blue Zones, one of the few places in the world that produces the most number of centenarians. I remember talking to my son’s sensei at his karate school about his brother in law’s dog. He said that the dog had cancer and went on to say that every dog in his brother in law’s street and neighborhood had cancer. He continued to say that the whole neighborhood sprayed their lawns with chemicals and fertilizers. The lawns were green but all the dogs were sick.

If the dogs are being poisoned and being diagnosed with cancer what more is happening to that neighborhood’s young? Start reading labels. Start asking questions. Are you aware that Roundup is a known carcinogen? Do you use toxic house cleaners around the house? Toxicity is everywhere. Start protecting yourself and your loved ones including our beloved pets.