Essay Three

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Icaria: The Fifth Blue Zone of the WORLD

photograph taken by: Lisa Kefalos

Agios Kirikos, Icaria

Life is a thrilling virtue that we have all been granted to obtain, but the quality and length of a life brings a different light on the spectrum. Each person lives their life differently according to customs, cultures, beliefs, etc, so it is hard to make an exact pinpoint of who fits the category of a quality “healthy lifestyle”. However, a blue zone attacks this question in the sense they do categorize regions of healthy lifestyles. According to John Fuller’s article,“What’s a blue zone, and am I living in one?”, it is stated that “blue zones are places on Earth where people live longer and healthier lives on average” (Fuller). In Keith Kleiner’s article “Blue Zones- Places in the World Where People Live to 100 and Stay Healthy”, he acknowledges that “five blue zones have so far been identified and thoroughly researched by journalist Dan Buettner in a partnership with National Geographic during more than five years of on-site investigation” (Kleiner). The island of Icaria, Greece is recognized as one of the five blue zones in the world.

This fairly recent blue zone addition holds much significance on my life as well as my familys’ because out of the 6,000 islands and islets that Greece has, the tiny island that my family is from is nominated as a blue zone. According to the weblog, The Island Where People Live Longer, it describes how “Dan Buettner and a team of demographers work with census data to identify blue zones around the world. They found Icaria had the highest percentage of 90-year-olds anywhere on the planet — nearly 1 out of 3 people make it to their 90s” (The Island Where People Live Longer). In America alone, that is a totally different case. “Our life spans are about 20 percent dictated by our genes, Buettner says. The rest is lifestyle” (The Island Where People Live Longer). Since both sides of my family have Icarian decent, I have been granted with the genes to potentially live longer, but in comparison to an actual Icarian, my lifestyle will not help support this statement. “Quite simply, these people live a lifestyle that includes a healthy diet, daily exercise, and a low stress life that incorporates family, purpose, religion, and meaning” (Kleiner).

"An optimistic attitude and an active social life contribute to Ikarians' health and longevity."

After researching the daily lifestyles and taken firsthand experience into consideration, Icarians indeed do live a simple, stress free life. Since Icaria is a mountainous island, and lacks active use of transportation, Icarians simply walk everywhere they need to go. Whether it is to the store, work, church, or to a friend’s, they must face the rugged landscape to walk on. So right off the bat this gives the people daily exercise. The islanders also all grow their own gardens. By consuming home grown fruits and vegetables, one knows exactly where the food came from, and if it was tampered with at all. Gardening also provides Icarians with exercise, momentum to spend time outside, and as a stress reliever. Icarians, as well as all other Greeks, have a strong relationship with their families. Family is the single most important possession in their eyes, making it a huge part of their life. “Also, maintaining contact with friends, family and your community will create an emotional network of bonds which can reduce stress and improve your outlook on life” (Fuller).

Icaria itself has the physical characteristics as one of the most beautiful places on earth; it’s basically paradise, though every form of paradise has its flaws. On an economic standpoint, Icaria runs on a low scale. The inhabitants still live in a vintage village lifestyle, all places do not have sanitary running water, and in a few words, the plumbing is outdated. So how is it that Icarians do not have the luxuries that we have and take advantage for in our daily lives, but they are the ones who are categorized as the healthiest people? In Jeff Baenen’s article “Blue Zones finds places where people live longest”, he stresses Buettner’s idea that “modern life is threatening the Blue Zones’ reputation for longevity” (Baenen). As modernization sweeps our world, it even has an effect on the blue zone areas.

photograph taken by: Lisa Kefalos

Agios Kirikos, Icaria

On my first trip to Icaria, I was startled with these particular influences. My mother and yia-yia, my grandmother, were also in a state of shock, since this was the first time they went to Greece in about twenty years. They made points throughout the whole trip stating aspects like this wasn’t here before, they really cleaned up, and wow there is an Italian restaurant on the island now? My whole life I had the mindset of Icaria being a beautiful, isolated island, that is very old and unique, using my family’s stories and pictures as a reference. So when I finally got a chance to see it myself, this image altered. Sure Icaria was still breathtaking, but it had a virtue I didn’t picture before. Because Icaria was filled with tiny stores, restaurants, and cafes, this gave me a sense of security and comfort as I do here in the states. This made me not think of the island as a complete foreign land, but in a sense my home.

So how can we follow the example the Icarians have set of a healthier lifestyle? “The answer, Buettner says, includes smaller food portions, an active lifestyle and moderate drinking” (Baenen). By taking these simple actions into consideration, maybe the way of life in our common world really can change, because in the end, doesn’t everyone seek to live a long and healthy life? “Blue zone inhabitants act as examples for others to live by, so it's entirely possible to create your own blue zone within the boundaries of your own home or community”(Fuller). So when you finally take that initiative to resort to a healthier lifestyle, you too can become an example to follow in your own community. Always remember that life is a precious gift, and a part of being healthy is to just enjoy it while you can! “The gift of a long and healthy life is already in the hands of each and every one of us. It is up to each of us to choose the lifestyle of health, and sadly most of us are choosing not to live that lifestyle. To each his own” (Kleiner).

photograph taken by: Lisa Kefalos

Agios Kirikos, Icaria