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Blue Zones Project Blog

Live Longer, Better® 

2 min read

Heroes Work Here

By Blue Zones Project - Umpqua on May 15, 2020 4:46:00 PM

Stay home, save lives.

Community members have done well in heeding these instructions to “flatten the curve” through social distancing, donning masks and gloves on limited excursions from the safety of their homes, and trying to make the most of this new, however temporary, normal. But what about those on whom we all relay for the essentials? Curbside garbage continues to be picked up. Groceries remained stocked. Mail arrives. Medical providers are still there for you. While it has it’s challenges, having the ability to self-quarantine may be a luxury that some cannot afford.
Topics: connect Healthier Connections at Home
5 min read

Life Has Changed and So Must We

By Allen S. Weiss, MD, FACP, FACR, MBA on May 14, 2020 4:00:56 PM

Our world has changed fundamentally from the impact of two events. The first, acute and most noxious, is COVID-19. The second, enduring and most beneficial, is the digital age. COVID-19 is terrible for health and the economy but has unwittingly served as a transformational catalyst for business and society. 
Topics: Bulletin
1 min read

Get Caught Reading

By Blue Zones Project - Pottawatomie County on May 10, 2020 11:33:00 AM

Get Caught Reading is a nationwide campaign to promote the fun of reading books for all ages. Launched in 1999 by the Association of American Publishers, the initiative is now managed by Every Child a Reader with support from the Lois Lenski Covey Foundation. Supporting well-known figures, including First Lady Laura Bush, Drew Carey, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Donald Duck, Patty Duke, Billy Graham, Derek Jeter, Dolly Parton, Sammy Sosa, Spider Man, Erik Weihenmayer, and others, have all been "caught reading" their favorite books and magazines for print ads and posters seen by millions of people across the country. In addition, more than 200 Members of Congress have been photographed "caught reading" on Capitol Hill. All of these images are available online. Click here to see pictures.
Topics: Downshift Healthier Outlook at Home
4 min read

Let's Get Moving to Reverse America's Dismal Life Expectancy

By Allen S. Weiss, MD, FACP, FACR, MBA on May 8, 2020 9:00:00 AM

American "exceptionalism" has its limits. “Our workforce is dying faster than any other wealthy country,” a Journal of the American Medical Association article [1] from Virginia Commonwealth University stated last year, as reported by USA Today.
Topics: Bulletin
2 min read

Celebrate Mediterranean Diet Month

By Blue Zones Project - Southwest Florida on May 1, 2020 4:30:00 PM

Summer is coming and all too often we look for the next quick fix or fad diet to look good in our bathing suits or short sleeves. However, what may work in the short term, is not necessarily what is best for our health for the long term. It’s time to take a look at the Mediterranean diet. This traditional diet has rooted itself over 5,000 years based on regional environment, culture, seasonal foods and local products. Only in the last 50 years has it been the subject of intensive clinical research and gained traction in the health and scientific community as one of the healthiest diets in the world. In fact, U.S. News & World Report recently announced the Mediterranean Diet as the No. 1 Best Overall Diet for the third year in a row.
Topics: Eat Wisely Plant Slant Healthier Eating at Home
3 min read

Rediscover Cycling During National Bike Month

By Featured Contributor on May 1, 2020 1:30:00 PM

This is a challenging time we are experiencing. For many of us, we are relearning how to navigate our daily lives and I would dare say, if my own experience is any indication, that is resulting in surprising things. You are probably tired of reading about the horror that has accompanied our current situation. I know I am. To help my mental state in this time I have tried to take a look at the good that has developed around us…change always brings good and bad.
Topics: Move Naturally Healthier Movement at Home
5 min read

Adjusting to Life with Spreading Covid-19: Stay Safe and Be Productive

By Allen S. Weiss, MD, FACP, FACR, MBA on May 1, 2020 9:00:00 AM

Covid-19 is stressing American society and us all in fundamental ways. The obvious and most important impact is the potential loss of life, particularly for the frail elderly and medically compromised folks among us. Not to be overlooked are the psychological, emotional, and financial stresses arising from the uncertainties surrounding the spread of the disease.
Topics: Bulletin Featured
2 min read

Movers and Shakers Moai Fosters New Friendships

By Featured Contributor on Apr 28, 2020 1:03:00 PM

Who enjoys meeting new people? Who could benefit from more exercise and movement? For me, these were some of the reasons I was drawn to attending a moai meeting hosted by Blue Zones Project Pottawatomie County. I definitely enjoy meeting people, especially smaller groups, and I am always looking for ways to stay more active while having fun! So in September of 2017, I was able to take part in this adventure not knowing where it exactly it might lead me.
Topics: Moai Walking Moai
4 min read

Why Your Heart Will Love the Power 9

By Blue Zones Project - Southwest Florida on Apr 27, 2020 12:51:00 PM

It is no secret that the heart is one of the most important organs in the body. That’s why it’s important to consider ways to keep your heart at its very best so you can live a long, healthy life. The Blue Zones Power 9 ®, a set of principles followed by the world’s longest-lived people, provides an easy-to-follow way of living that your heart will love.
Topics: Power 9
3 min read

Pisgah Health Foundation Provides Innovative COVID-19 Support for Western North Carolina Residents

By Allen S. Weiss, MD, FACP, FACR, MBA on Apr 24, 2020 9:00:00 AM

In the rapidly changing and often confusing time of COVID-19, Sharecare and Blue Zones Project have had the opportunity to witness how individuals, organizations and communities are working together to help address the fallout of this virus. One of the most dynamic and active organizations that we have observed is the   Pisgah Health Foundation (PHF), a public 501 (c)(3) charity that was founded in 2019 by a board of seven individuals. Their focus was, and remains on improving the health, wellness, and lives of Western North Carolina residents by targeting underlying social determinants related to health, food insecurity, housing, social cohesion, and education. The organization evolved from the Transylvania Regional Hospital Foundation and serves five counties in Western North Carolina. 
Topics: Bulletin

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