Ames was recently visited by the Blue Zones Project, an initiative set forth by National Geographic researcher Dan Buettner, to help people live longer, happier lives on Feb. 27.

“It’s not just a healthy concept”, said Elaine Hieber, co-chairwoman of the project here in Ames and former ISU administrator from 23 years. “It’s a cultural shift, changing your environment and entire sense of well-being.”

This project received immediate support from everyone involved. Gov. Terry Branstad is using the Blue Zones Project in his initiative to make Iowa the healthiest state by 2016. Iowa is currently ranked 16th in the nation, up from 19th last year. Mayor Ann Campbell and many ISU officials also stand behind this 100 percent.

Buettner began his research by visiting four communities throughout the world: Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan; Monterrey, Nuevo Leon; and Loma Linda, Calif.

“During his research, he didn’t find people who spent their lives dieting or going to the gym,” said John Shierholz, fellow co-chairman and retired radiologist. “Just people who lived healthy lives and were happy at 100.”

Buettner developed nine principles for longer life from his time spent among these people, and has integrated them into his Blue Zones Initiative.

The first three principles deal with the things people do on a daily basis. People get more physical activity naturally if they live in walkable communities, rather than driving a car wherever they go. It has also been proven that people who wake up every morning with a clear sense of purpose in their lives live up to seven years longer than those who do not. Finally, finding time each day to meditate, nap, or pray can reverse inflammation related to every major age-related illness.

The next three deal with diets and how much people eat in a day. Buettner developed something he called the “80 percent rule.”

“It generally takes your stomach 20 minutes to tell your brain it’s full,” Shierholz said. “So if you stop eating when you feel about 80 percent full, you won’t accidentally overeat.”

Next, Buettner said people need to fill their diet with mostly beans, nuts and green plants.

“Now this doesn’t mean you have to become a vegetarian,” Hieber said. “What he is basically saying is you need to have a balance. Try not to eat too much of any one kind of food.”

Lastly, a glass or two of wine daily can add years to a person’s life, especially when paired with a good diet.

His final three deal with the relationships people foster in their social lives and community. Keeping family close can add half a dozen years to a person’s life as well as investing time in their kids, nurturing healthy relationships with a spouse, and keeping in touch with their parents.

Belonging to any type of faith based community can also be beneficial. It can be any religion, and people who attend something within this faith community four times a month tend to live four to 14 years longer. Finally, friends have a huge influence on their future well-being. If people surround themselves with health-minded, supportive people it can add years to their life.

The Blue Zones Project is a collaboration between Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Healthways, to make Iowa number one in the nation for well being, and they are hoping all communities will become Blue Zones within the next five years. Ames is one of 11 finalists to become “demonstration communities.” These communities will be given assistance from international experts to improve their communities, as well as supplies and manpower from Wellmark and Healthways.

Ames currently sits at fourth place, with 15.55 percent involvement from the community.

“Community support is all that’s needed now,” said Shelley Goecke, community engagement director for the Blue Zone Project in Ames. “We are hoping for at least 25 percent. The last piece of the puzzle are the students at Iowa State — they make up a sizeable chunk of the Ames community. 25,000 students are actually members of this Blue Zone.” 

“The students at Iowa State are our top priority right now,” Shierholz said. “If we can get enough support to move us forward, they will be the ones who are able to spread these ideals to the places they move to after graduation.”

Within the next nine weeks, three or four of the final communities will be chosen to represent Blue Zones as demonstration communities this year.