Okinawa’s blue zone status questioned

The World

For decades, Okinawa, Japan, has prided itself as a hotspot for longevity. In 1999, the Japanese islands were listed as one of five “blue zones”, where people statistically live the longest, often into their 100s. On Okinawa, a strong diet and emphasis on human connection were thought to be some of the biggest contributing factors. But new research suggests the entire concept of blue zones is a myth. Rebecca Rosman examines the data, and visits Okinawa to find what healthy habits can be gleaned from the lifestyle. 

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