On a recent United flight, I was flipping through their inflight magazine, Hemispheres, and an article caught my attention. The article highlighted Singapore as the newest Blue Zone, a region where people live longer than average. If you're familiar with Blue Zones, you know that Singapore doesn't fit the profile. Think of other Blue Zones from Loma Linda to Okinawa and Sardinia and they are mainly small-town or rural environments that foster social connections, physical activity, and a slower pace of life. (Diet plays a role too but varies across regions.)
If you're familiar with Singapore, it is the antithesis of a small town and leisurely lifestyle. Singapore is a densely packed island country with a population close to six million. On the surface, it more closely resembles New York with its fast-paced lifestyle and skyscrapers than its idyllic Blue Zone counterparts. Healthy eating habits are not part of the culture. How is Singapore a Blue Zone? There is no single answer, but the United article made a strong case that Singapore is "engineered" for health. Car ownership is low; residents walk. Couple that with the commitment of Singapore's Health Ministry to create and maintain healthy outdoor spaces, like parks, and Singapore's resemblance to a Blue Zone emerges.
This is encouraging for city dwellers in other countries, like Santa Monica, but is also a warning. We can all engineer a healthier environment and lifestyle, but it takes effort. For example, I have had a hybrid work schedule since COVID-19 hit, mostly working from home. It's easy to not leave the house on most workdays. I'm tethered to my computer at home. It takes effort to take breaks and walk outside, finding time to breath fresh air, bask in the sunlight, enjoy the beauty of nature, or at least green shrubbery and trees, and give thanks to God for another day. We can't all live in a Blue Zone, but we can adopt Blue Zone habits.