Everybody hears about Blue Zones on the radio, in the newspaper, etc., but what really is Blue Zones? Is it a bunch of people coming in and telling us how to run our community? Or is it something totally different? I feel that Blue Zones is an opportunity to make better choices in our daily lives, a pathway, per say, that guides people down the right road to a healthier lifestyle.

The program is totally about self-motivation, which some people in the U.S. today are sometimes lacking. It consists of a weekly plan including simple things such as walking the lake, eating a healthy meal, and even just sitting down and evaluating your life.

All you have to do is go online and check out the Blue Zones website. There you can take what they call a Vitality test; it just asks you simple questions about your life choices. It then projects a life expectancy for you, provided you keep up the same lifestyle. Then it gives you simple tips on how to change some choices to raise your life expectancy, such as eating more protein, walking a mile everyday, or drinking more milk.

You can even sign up for a “Vitality Coach,” which is designed to keep you on track toward your goal. All Blue Zones wants to do is, simply stated, better America. Statistically, one out of every four people is obese. Now that’s just in Minnesota. The people of Blue Zones wanted to change all of that. They just need your help.

Galen Schulz

Albert Lea High School

English class

Albert Lea