Welcome from the editor: wellbeing
Welcome and thank you for joining me this weekend.
At the moment it seems that everyone is talking about Living to 100: secrets of the blue zones. Released recently, the Netflix documentary by American journalist Dan Buettner investigates longevity, focussing on the ‘blue zones’, corners of the planet where people surpass the average life expectancy and tend to have fewer ailments than the rest of the world. Buettner travels to Okinawa in Japan, the Greek island Ikaria, the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica, Ogliastra in Sardinia, Italy, and Loma Linda in California, United States, to find out what keeps these people healthy well beyond the age of 100. The results are surprisingly simple: a natural and healthy, mostly plant-based, diet, made up of local produce; an active lifestyle; a strong sense of community and purpose; good relationships with friends and family; volunteering; a positive outlook, and a glass or two of locally produced wine.
The above may sound like common sense – eat well, don’t be sedentary, love thy neighbour – yet many of us don’t follow these simple guidelines, and perhaps hope for a magic pill that will allow us to live a long and healthy life.
The good news is that everyday is a new day and a new opportunity to improve our lifestyle and our health. Find out how eating sustainably can improve our wellbeing and the environment in Sustainable diets: eating in harmony with the planet.
Not many of us are lucky enough to live on a beautiful island of course. Hectic urban lifestyles mean that we often eat convenience foods, take public transport or the car instead of walking, and don’t actively participate in our community. Whilst good nutrition and a bit of exercise are hugely important, these days there are many supplements that can support a healthy lifestyle. But with so many on the market, how do we know what we require? Read all about it in Nutraceuticals: understanding the function and benefits of nutritional supplements.
And in this week’s news: what do you get if you mix carbon dioxide and electricity? Sustainable milk of course! Find out more in Solar Foods-led consortium selected by European Innovation Council to develop novel milk protein using CO2 and electricity.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend,
Stef
