Editor’s note: Due to an editing error, the end of Laura Wiskik’s column “Living longer and prospering by going ‘Blue,” was omitted last week. Wishik wrote this piece as its conclusion.
Stress feels uncomfortable. It also makes us fat, sick and sometimes brain damaged. When we are stressed, our bodies produce cortisol. If we are being chased by a wolf, that surge of cortisol is very helpful. The problem is when we are stressed all the time. Cortisol makes us hungry, so we eat more. If we are not being chased by a wolf, the extra calories are stored as fat. Cortisol also causes inflammation, which leads to most of the diseases we associate with getting older: heart disease, dementia, some cancers. Stress during development of the brain causes damage that can be disabling for life.
Last week, I described what people who live in “Blue Zones,” places where life expectancy and health are far better than here, eat. In addition to having a diet that is 95 percent from plants, people in Blue Zones have a daily relaxation routine. Some people pray, some take a nap. Others have a glass of red wine. Meditation, tai chi and yoga are all proven to reduce stress. What if all the children on Vashon learned these methods at a young age? They could be our first “Blue” generation.
Another commonality is that people in Blue Zones have a sense of purpose to their lives, “a reason to get out of bed in the morning.” A lot of Vashonites have a sense of purpose, but we could benefit from defining it more clearly. The Blue Zones Project has used workshops to help people recognize their gifts, passions and values. Sounds like a Vashon kind of thing.
Communities in the United States have been working with the Blue Zones Project to improve the health of their residents. Some of the strategies seem well-suited to Vashon. For example, instead of selling chocolate or cookies to raise money, students get pledges to participate in “walking marathons.” We all know our youth need to get outside and move more, so I’m sure there would be support for this.
The Blue Zones Project has created materials to guide students to take charge of their own health. Teachers, students and parents work as a team to increase physical activity, decrease screen time, increase daily consumption of vegetables and decrease drinking sugary beverages.
Another community strategy involves working with restaurants. For example, bread would only be put on the table if requested. Sides of fruit or vegetables would be the norm. If you wanted fries or chips instead, you would need to ask for them. There always would be a fresh fruit option for dessert.
There are great ideas and recipes in “The Blue Zones Solution” by Dan Buettner and on the web at www.Bluezones.com. Let’s start talking about how to make Vashon more “Blue.” Stop by the Shape Up Vashon table at the Farmer’s Market between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22. Or send an email to info@shape
upvashon.org to say you’re interested. Let’s make Vashon a place where lots of people in their 90s are dancing in the street at Strawberry Festival.
— Laura Wishik is a mother, attorney, member of the school board and the head of Shape Up Vashon.
