Welcome to the Full of Beans blog, where we explore ways to live a healthier, more fulfilling life inspired by the healthiest and longest-living communities around the world. Our brand is deeply influenced by the Blue Zones—regions where people live significantly longer and healthier lives. This inspiration drives our mission to help you live a "beaningful" life.
My Personal Journey with Beans
After experiencing the incredible benefits of adding beans to my diet, I was eager to learn more about their potential. My quest led me to discover the book "The Blue Zones" by Dan Buettner, which documents regions around the world where people live the longest, healthiest lives. The common thread among these communities? They all incorporate beans as a staple in their diets. This was a revelation and a confirmation that my new habit was indeed the right path to health and longevity. But what I loved most about this book is its holistic view of health—not just focusing on one superfood but on a balanced approach encompassing body, mind, and spirit.
The Blue Zones Inspiration
The concept of Blue Zones comes from the work of Dan Buettner and National Geographic. Through extensive research, they identified five regions where people routinely live to be 100 years old or more. These regions include:
- Sardinia, Italy
- Okinawa, Japan
- Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica
- Ikaria, Greece
- Loma Linda, California, USA
Buettner and his team discovered that these communities share common lifestyle habits, known as the Power 9 principles, which contribute to their remarkable longevity and health.
The Power 9 Principles
- Move Naturally: The people in Blue Zones are not gym-goers; instead, their daily routines naturally incorporate physical activity, such as gardening, walking, and household chores.
- Purpose: Having a sense of purpose can add up to seven years to your life. People in Blue Zones wake up with a reason to live, whether it’s family, community, or personal passions.
- Downshift: Stress leads to chronic inflammation, which is associated with every major age-related disease. Blue Zone inhabitants have routines to shed stress, such as prayer, naps, and spending time with loved ones.
- 80% Rule: "Hara hachi bu," a Confucian mantra said before meals in Okinawa, reminds people to stop eating when they’re 80% full. This helps prevent overeating and maintains a healthy weight.
- Plant Slant: Beans, including fava, black, soy, and lentils, are a cornerstone of Blue Zone diets.
- Wine at 5: People in all Blue Zones (except Adventists in Loma Linda) drink alcohol moderately and regularly. The key is to drink 1-2 glasses per day, preferably wine, with friends and/or with food. While I personally debate about the "Wine at 5" principle, I believe that incorporating the other eight habits can completely transform our overall health.
- Belong: Attending faith-based services four times per month adds 4-14 years to life expectancy. The sense of belonging and community is crucial.
- Loved Ones First: Family is a priority in Blue Zones. Keeping aging parents nearby, committing to a life partner, and investing time and love in children all add to longevity.
- Right Tribe: Social circles support healthy behaviors. Okinawans create moais—groups of five friends that commit to each other for life. The support from these social networks helps reinforce healthy behaviors.
Embracing the Blue Zones Lifestyle with Full of Beans
At Full of Beans, we are inspired by these principles and aim to incorporate them into our brand ethos. We believe that a diet rich in beans can help you live a longer, healthier, and more fulfilling life. Our products are designed to make it easy to enjoy the numerous benefits of beans, from delicious recipes to practical lifestyle tips. While we love beans and consider them one of the best superfoods on the planet, we know they are not magic. To live a longer, healthy, and "beaningful" life, you need more than just beans.
Life Recipes for a Beaningful Life
Our Life Recipes section is dedicated to sharing tips that can help us adapt the Blue Zones habits into our modern lives, as well as discussing the struggles we face in doing so. It's easier said than done when life has its way, but we believe that with practical advice and a supportive community, we can incorporate these healthy habits into our daily routines.
Join Our Community
We invite you to be part of our Full of Beans community by sharing your own life recipes—tips, routines, and practices that help you live a beaningful life. Use the hashtags #FullofBeansLifeRecipes and #BeanPowered to share your insights on social media. Whether it's a morning ritual that sets the tone for your day, a favorite way to de-stress, or how you maintain strong social connections, your contributions can inspire others to adopt healthier habits.
