Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones Review: Director Clay Jeter and best-selling author & adventurer Dan Buettner take the audience on a journey around the world in this adventurous documentary to find communities wherein people live extraordinarily long lives. The docuseries consists of 4 episodes, each with a runtime of 30-45 minutes.
– Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones Review Does Not Contain Spoilers –
Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones Plot
Best-selling author & adventurer Dan Buettner corroborated with National Geographic in the early 2000s to scour the earth in hopes of reverse-engineering the mysteries of longevity and finding places where people live naturally longer lives. This resulted in the discovery of Blue Zones within Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Ikaria, Greece; Nicoya, Costa Rica; and Loma Linda, California. As a result, Buettner discovers their very different cultures and secrets and surprising similarities that have resulted in them living for 100 years!
In Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones, thus, the host takes us on a journey to take a look at the diet, behaviour and lifestyles of these communities that help them live longer, healthier and more vibrant lives so that the audience can also take a page out of their books and follow their leads.
Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones Review
The thought of staying alive till 100 might be daunting for most of us – we are probably very stressed with everyday life, and although most don’t wish to drop dead right here and now, let’s be real – we are a tired generation of human beings. However, adventurer Dan Buettner takes us on a soul-stirring journey to, maybe, change our minds!
The discussions surrounding health and the complete cycle of things that can contribute to healthier and longer lives are seriously impressive because it’s not just scientific; they also look at the lived experiences of centenarians who might just defeat us in a test of strength. I say this because there are people who, at 100+, are riding horses and tending to livestock like it’s no big deal – it’s both surprising and very inspiring. You can’t help but look in awe at these people who seem like they have decoded the answer to living very long lives with very few health defects.
Also Read: The Great Seduction Review: A Heartfelt and Enjoyable Slice of Life Mexican Comedy
The series is definitely interesting and does help you learn a lot about food, lifestyle and overall happiness. The interviews are very sweet and insightful, and the people seem very warm all around. The different cultural differences are extremely interesting to watch, but the similarities are also interesting to come across. There are moments wherein you might pull out a pen and jot down the different things that make these people have so much happiness in their hearts, even at their advanced ages.
That being said, a lot of the runtime of Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones is spent listening to the host point out exactly where our modern society is going off track, which is expected in a docuseries about health but at some point, you just want to listen to the interviewees talk instead of being told like a schoolchild whether or not we should eat meat.
One more thing that I found kind of odd was just how much the series pushes the audience to move to a plant-based diet. I get it – eating too much meat isn’t the best for our bodies. But does that necessarily mean one should give up meat totally? Does meat, in controlled quantities, not have any health benefits? I think the series misses out on discussing the importance of eating controlled quantities of food, be it vegetables, fruits or meat, instead of bidding adieu to something that certain cultures have grown up eating.
Also Read: Risque Business Taiwan: 7 Revelations on Taiwan’s Dating and Sex Culture That Will Surprise You
Other than that, of course, the series is just a simple breakdown of healthy habits that might help people live better lives in the long run. Because it’s not just about the length of your lives – it’s about the quality as well. As the series mentions in the first scene of the first episode, this isn’t a sure-shot look into a generalised remedy for all of everyone’s diseases. Everyone’s lifestyles, bodies and habits are different, and for those changing lifestyles, one must adapt and reinvent what works for them. But in the grand scheme of things, the suggestions of being active and generally living a preservative-free lifestyle is, of course, always healthier.
The last episode of Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones discusses Buettner’s extraordinary initiative that he came to plan through years of research into these Blue Zones. It’s a good look into how everything that we see in the first four episodes can actually make an impact in bettering people’s lives and will definitely be hopeful for many who need that gentle push to steer their lives in healthier directions. However, I think one would definitely feel a bit sad to note how globalisation and consumerism are destroying the very places that taught these lessons in the first place.
Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones Review: Final Thoughts
Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones looks great, the music goes well with the subject matter, and the interviewees are sweet as sugar. It definitely will make you rethink your sedentary and fast food-fuelled lifestyle while also reminding you of the importance of having people around you to keep away the loneliness. All in all, it’s definitely worth looking into, but only if you remember that one shoe doesn’t fit all – however, exercise, a clean diet and finding a sense of belonging and community can definitely help achieve a happier and more fulfilled life.
Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones is streaming on Netflix.
Also Read: 8 Hollywood Movies to Watch With Your Girl Gang: Birds of Prey, Mean Girls, Bridesmaids and More