Blue Zones founder eats minestrone for breakfast
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Photo illustration: Axios Visuals. Photo: Courtesy of Dan Buettner
Dan Buettner, the founder of the longevity-focused company Blue Zones, wants more people to live to 100.
Why it matters: Americans are spending a lot in their search for wellness, and Buettner's "secrets for living longer" don't require big bucks. In fact, one of his biggest health food hacks is eating beans.
- The 63-year-old found that people in Blue Zones — areas of the world with the highest concentrations of centenarians — eat mostly plant-based meals, exercise as part of daily life, and are spiritual, social and have a strong sense of purpose.
Catch up quick: Buettner's got an Emmy-winning Netflix series, books and ready-to-heat meals, and has started Blue Zones projects in dozens of U.S. communities. He's also a National Geographic journalist and former Guinness World Record distance cycling holder.
Yes, but: Not everyone agrees that Blue Zones are the key to longevity — some scientists claim the concept is founded on spotty data.
Buettner, who lives in Miami, spoke with Axios about how he starts and ends his day:
🕖 What time do you wake up? 7am.
☕ What's the first thing you do in the morning? Walk down to the beach to get a cup of coffee. I put a little bit of oat milk in there.
💬 Who is the first person you talk to? My girlfriend.
🥣 What's the first thing you eat? And what time? Homemade minestrone at 11am. (Here's the recipe.)
😴 Something you do every day: I take a nap almost every day. I do something I love in the way of physical activity every day.
🍽️ What's the last thing you eat or drink before bed? Dinner at 6pm. Stir-fry tofu is kind of an ideal for me, but I go out to eat a lot.
- Favorite Miami restaurant: Love Life Cafe.
📺 Nighttime ritual: Watch Netflix.
🛏️ Bedtime: 11pm or midnight.
🤔 Something you wish you did differently: I like feeling useful and living out my purpose, but I also like to savor my life and do the things I enjoy.
- I would like to spend a higher percentage of my day doing things I enjoy as opposed to things that I should be doing.
