What does it take to live over 100 these days? And how do we stay healthy doing it? A study by Dan Buettner finds answers to these questions in his new study on the topic.

Working with a team of demographers and scientists, and partially funded by theNational Institute of Aging, Buettner spent seven years trying to find specific parts of the world where people live the longest. He found four “blue zones” in various parts of the globe where it isn’t uncommon to live longer than 100.

These zones are located in very different areas of the world’s geography: Sardinia, Italy, whose heart healthy populous swear on 2 glasses of red wine a day, Okinawa, Japan, where 80 percent of the population lives to be over 65, the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica and Loma Linda, California. A fifth blue zone may be announced as soon as this fall.

The areas were chosen not only by the life expectancy but a health rate. The percentage of disease and illness in these zones are far less than those in North America, for example. Okinawa holds the title for the world’s longest disability-free life expectancy according to the World Health Organization.

Okinawa’s citizens also boast one-fifth the rate of colon and breast cancer and one-sixth the rate of heart disease than North America. Their diet is mainly plant based, including soy. Its citizens also advocate for health for the elderly. Another reason Buettner found Okinawa’s life expectancy was so long was its citizen’s sense of purpose. They call it ikigai, which means “the reason for which you wake up in the world.” He hypothesizes that people who don’t have a reason to wake up usually live 7 or 8 years less than those who do.

Other blue zones boast healthy diets. A typical Costa Rican diet includes black beans, fruit and lime-soaked corn. In Loma Linda, a large population of Seventh Day Adventists could be the reason for their impressive life span. The Adventists follow a strict Bible oriented diet of mainly plants and observe the Sabbath once a week, which allows them to take a breather from life’s many stresses.

With all the diversity in these 4 parts of the world, they all have many things in common. All places participate in low-intensity physical activity being part of every day life, eat a healthy diet and continue to search for purpose and meaning in their lives.

Buettner has started what is called a vitality compass test that allows anyone to check a life expectancy calculator online to ascertain what she/he needs to work on in order to expand their life expectancy. This includes eating smaller portions and increasing daily movement. Follow this link to take the test.