Breakfast, says Dan Buettner, the world’s leading longevity researcher, is key to living a long and healthy life. He continues to passionately promote a breakfast filled with nutrient-rich foods. His recommendations come from dozens of studies in communities around the world, which he calls “blue zones.” Okinawa in Japan and Sardinia in Italy are extraordinary examples. That’s because, as they like to remind you, they have some of the longest-living people—centenarians, even—on the planet.
During the pandemic, that way of life became increasingly difficult to maintain,” Buettner told CNBC Make It last year. He focused on six main food groups to incorporate into your breakfast. These range from beans and vegetables to rice, fruits, miso, and oats. His approach contrasts sharply with typical American breakfasts, which often consist of processed foods high in sugar and unhealthy fats.
Buettner’s personal breakfast routine reflects his recommendations. He’ll cook a weighted batch of a big spicy vegetable minestrone stew or something with a lot of beans to start his day. This decision deeply aligns with his dietary guidelines. Beyond their wise practices and ways of being, it highlights the nutritional abundance that fuels long lives.
He underscores the significance of starting the day with a robust meal, stating, “We have a saying: breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.” This philosophy goes hand in hand with the idea that starting the day off with a hearty, delicious breakfast makes for a great morning and improved overall health.
Buettner’s research just underscores the power of making your first meal of the day a good one. It can have huge impact on your mental health, in addition to these dietary tips. Perlmutter points out that the eating patterns of blue zone residents are hugely different than those of most Americans. By embracing what they do differently, everyone can improve their odds of living more years, with more healthy years.
To encourage others to explore these dietary changes, Buettner has provided a discount coupon code “MEMORIAL,” offering 30% off the regular course price for those interested in learning more about healthy living and longevity.