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- At 68, Whoopi Goldberg owns a vacation property in Sardinia, Italy, recognized as the first “Blue Zone.”
- Goldberg contrasted life in Sardinia with that in the United States, where stress is prevalent.
- “Blue Zones” are areas known for their residents’ longevity and health.
The secret to Whoopi Goldberg’s longevity might be linked to her retreat in Sardinia, Italy.
During a recent episode of “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon“, she humorously claimed she’s “actually 206 years old.”
Sardinia is an Italian island located in the Mediterranean Sea and holds the distinction of being the first identified “Blue Zone.” This term describes regions where inhabitants enjoy longer and healthier lives compared to global averages.
When asked by Fallon about why people there tend to live longer, Goldberg remarked, “They don’t have much nonsense to deal with.” She elaborated that Americans often experience significant stress. “We can’t always pinpoint why we’re stressed,” she noted. “But you can see it when you walk down any street; people seem tense—hands clenched and all.”
In contrast, she pointed out that Sardinians benefit from cleaner air and healthier food options. “There’s not much pollution or unhealthy food around,” she stated.
“Our habits may not always serve us well,” she continued. “We’re beginning to realize we consume items with ingredients we can’t even pronounce. If you can’t say it clearly, maybe don’t eat it.”
In a May interview with CBS News, Goldberg shared how her time in Sardinia allows her to disconnect from societal pressures while enjoying audiobooks.
“I’m looking forward to escaping some of this scrutiny I face,” she explained regarding her desire for more time spent in Italy. “I believe distancing myself from opinion-driven television will make things easier for me.”
The Essence of Living in a ‘Blue Zone’
The concept of “Blue Zones,” popularized by Dan Buettner through a National Geographic cover story, has led him to write books and create documentaries exploring these unique regions.
This journey began on the island of Sardinia when researchers discovered an unusually high number of centenarians living there.
“Sardinia had such a concentration of blue markers indicating longevity that it appeared as a blue spot on our maps,” Buettner explained during an interview with NBC News.
Apart from Sardinia, other original Blue Zones include specific areas within California, Japan, Greece, and Costa Rica. Recently added was Singapore following its feature in the docuseries titled “Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones.”
A report last September highlighted that residents of Sardinia typically consume simple foods while engaging regularly in physical activity like walking. They also practice moderation when drinking alcohol and place great importance on family connections.
Despite these appealing aspects associated with Blue Zone living conditions, some experts have raised concerns about their scientific validity.
This past October Dr. Nir Barzilai from Albert Einstein College’s Institute for Aging Research commented to The New York Times, stating that theories surrounding Blue Zones lack rigorous scientific backing: “It’s more observational than empirical science,” he remarked while acknowledging its alignment with existing knowledge about aging processes.
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