A Blue Zone City

Longevity, good health and life satisfaction are the dream of most people. In Loma Linda, the dream of longevity is a reality, in one of only five cities in the world, and the only city in the U.S., to earn the Blue Zone designation.

Put simply, the Blue Zone designation is used to identify the world’s longest-living cultures and the characteristics that explain their longevity.

The Blue Zone project began over 25 years ago when researchers looked into the longevity and good health of residents in Okinawa, Japan; since then, the Blue Zone concept has been studied across the world, with five sites identified: Okinawa; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece and Loma Linda. Through meticulous documentation and research, Loma Linda was certified as a Blue Zone City over twenty years ago when it was determined that many residents here lived four to ten years longer than average.

One celebrated Loma Linda example, Dr. Ellsworth Wareham, lived to be 104. A cardiothoracic surgeon and a true medical pioneer, Ellsworth was an early practitioner of open-heart surgery and co-founded the Loma Linda University Open Heart Surgery Team which performs surgeries for adults and children across the world in places where care isn’t available. Although he retired as a surgeon when he was 75, Ellsworth continued to train medical students and residents until he was 95. See his video here.

Loma Linda’s role as a hub of global healthcare innovation began in 1905 as a small hospital founded by Seventh-day Adventists. Today, more than 9,000 Seventh-day Adventist members live in Loma Linda, their diet and lifestyle habits forming the basis for the City’s Blue Zone success.

Because they view their health as critical, church members exercise regularly, adhere to a vegetarian or vegan diet and avoid smoking and alcohol. Members also practice a 24-hour Sabbath which encourages them to focus spiritual needs and reduce stress.

Residents don’t need to belong to the Seventh-day Adventist Church to reap the benefits of the Blue Zone lifestyle, because the City makes it easier to live a longer, healthier lifestyle with an inviting menu of vegetarian and vegan dining options, outdoor recreation on approximately 20 miles of trails and 15 City parks, that also allow for experiences that enable individuals and families to recharge and reconnect. Commute times are also shorter than the national average, while real estate and rental costs are nearly 20% less than the California average, lessening stress as well as the expense of time and money. Loma Linda is the ideal location to enjoy California beauty and premium health benefits without costs and congestion—and to enjoy them longer!