Blue Zones
noun phrase

- regions of the world where people live longer than average and maintain good health, and where there are particularly high numbers of centenarians

Max Planck Institute

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WORD ORIGIN

The origin of the term "Blue Zone" traces back to the early 2000s when an explorer named Dan Buettner teamed up with National Geographic and researchers from the University of Montreal to identify global hot spots, or regions, where lifespans were significantly above-average. They termed these environs "Blue Zones" - with the colour blue simply referring to how they might highlight or circle these special longevity regions on a map.

Five regions were identified as Blue Zones: Okinawa (Japan), Sardinia (Italy), the Nicoya Peninsula (Costa Rica), Ikaria (Greece) and Loma Linda (California, USA)

According to Buettner, all five regions have certain cultural similarities that are used to explain their long and healthy lives. These include a predominantly plant-based diet with high consumption of vegetables, a moderate calorie intake and a low consumption of tobacco and alcohol. In addition, Blue Zones residents are strongly family-oriented, social engagement is high, and physical exercise is an integral part of daily life.

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BLUE IDIOMS

- Out of the Blue = plötzlich und unerwartet, aus heiterem Himmel (The sudden resignation of our CEO came out of the blue, and we need to find a replacement quickly.)

- Once in a Blue Moon = sehr selten, alle Jubeljahre (Getting approval for such a budget increase only happens once in a blue moon.)

- Blue in the Face = sich vergeblich bemühen, sich grün und blau ärgern (I’ve explained the benefits of this new software until I'm blue in the face, but some team members are still resistant to change.)

- Blue Sky Thinking = kreatives und unkonventionelles Denken, querdenken (Our innovation workshop encourages blue sky thinking to generate groundbreaking ideas for our next product line.)

- Blue Blood = adliges Blut, blaublütig (She comes from a family of blue blood, and her aristocratic background is well-known in business circles.)

- Blue-Eyed Boy = der Liebling, der Musterschüler (John has always been the boss's blue-eyed boy, getting special opportunities and promotions.)

- Blue Chip = erstklassig oder verlässlich, ein sicherer Wert (Investing in blue-chip stocks was always seen as a safe bet for long-term financial growth.)

- Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea = in einer schwierigen Lage, zwischen Hammer und Amboss (Negotiating this contract feels like being between the devil and the deep blue sea; both options have risks.)

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SYNONYMS

- for “blue”

Air Force blue, aquamarine, azure, bluebell, blue-grey, blue-green, blue-violet, capri, Caribbean blue, celestial, cerulean, cobalt, cornflower, crystal, cyan, denim, Egyptian blue, electric blue, ice blue, indigo, lavender, Mediterranean blue, midnight, navy blue, ocean blue, pale blue, periwinkle, prussian blue, Robin's egg blue, sapphire, sky blue, steel blue, teal blue, turquoise, ultramarine, water blue

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SMUGGLE OWAD into a conversation, say something like:

“If you’re interested in the subject of healthy aging, the best introduction is 'BLUE ZONES: Lessons From the World's Longest Lived. by Buettner & Skemp'.”

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