Summary
This series offers a way to look at lifestyles worldwide, taking away hints and tips that might help you live longer.
Here is our review of the 2023 Netflix documentary series Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones, released on August 30, 2023.
As the great Freddy Mercury sang, “Who wants to live forever?” I think a lot of us do. We fear getting old, being infirm, being a burden, and fear death. The answer? Many think it’s technology, while others say it is to look after ourselves.
Netflix has created a limited series that follows Buettner’s bestselling book The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who’ve Lived the Longest. This series travels around the world to investigate the diet and lifestyles of those living the longest lives.
To date, Buettner’s travels and research have unveiled Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Ikaria, Greece; Nicoya, Costa Rica; and Loma Linda, California, as Blue Zones with the highest rates of living centenarians.
READ: One Shot: Overtime Elite Season 1 Review
These zones he called “The Blue Zones” — places where people live longer than what is usually expected. What these five main spots seem to have in common are plant-based diets, natural movement, a work-life/family balance, and a lack of social media/technological influences.
It almost seems obvious, but something unachievable in a lot of areas around the world. This isn’t just a personal lifestyle change. It would need a full-on society re-shift, which, sadly, is not going to happen any time soon.
Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones Review
The series opens by discussing death and how our current efforts are not giving us the best benefits. In the world, people are dying prematurely from avoidable diseases, and in America especially, life expectancy is dropping. Is this something fixable? It’s not avoiding death. It’s learning how to live.
Each episode focuses on one area and the people living there. Be easygoing, don’t get upset; laughter brings longevity, says the small village In Japan. In Italy, the village that has its locals climbing steep streets correlates to longevity.
The commonality is movement. In the Western world, we spend prolonged inactivity sitting at our desks, in our cars, etc.; therefore, would taking the stairs instead of the elevator really have a benefit? What is clear is that the people are vibrant and active and are living longer without trying.
What is really lovely to see is how these blue zones treat and value their elderly, and this love and care is certainly a factor in living longer.
Buettner is a great presenter — he’s likable, personable, inspiring, and engaging to watch. I believed in what he was saying and hoped for a better future as he was offering a blueprint for achieving a long life after years of research.
In the final episode, he tries to put this into practice, trying to create a new blue zone — and I’ll let you watch and see the outcome.
Is Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones good or bad?
It is certainly interesting to watch. Studies show how these areas have less death and disease and a wider look into how to live a longer and better life.
Although I was left feeling slightly sad and deflated — I also felt inspired and educated. The episodes are short and sweet at roughly thirty to forty minutes, so it’s easy viewing.
Is Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones worth watching?
Yes – if anything, it’s eye-opening to see how other cultures live and how that’s allowing them to live longer.
Although it’s unrealistic, I believe, to assume that everyone can live like this. You need to be active, have clean food and the time to prepare it every day and be happy, humble, and honest.
Not every country gives their people the opportunity for this, and not everyone is built genetically to sustain this – so watch this series with good intentions, but don’t feel bad if you can’t live this way. You might not make it to 100 years old.
What did you think of the 2023 Netflix documentary series Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones? Comment below.
