Working to create SA's own Blue Zone in the Valley of Life

The quest for longevity is probably as old as humanity itself - or at least as old as the first grandparent who decided they'd like to be around to watch their grandchild grow up -- and is deeply entrenched in our collective psyche. 

As such, it has given rise to countless folk and fairy tales, as well as many expeditions and explorations aimed at finding the magic fountain, secret valley, ancient elixir, arcane formula or rare flower that would guarantee the finder everlasting youth and health.

It has also led, in modern times, to extensive research into all the factors that enable some people to live much longer than others and remain in good physical and mental health - and to the identification by explorer and author Dan Buettner of the first five "Blue Zones" - small parts of the world with exceptionally high life expectancy rates and large numbers of healthy centenarians.

These relatively isolated areas, featured in the Emmy Award-winning Netflix series Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones, include a group of villages in Sardinia, Italy; the island of Icaria in Greece, Okinawa Island in Japan; the Nicoya peninsula in Costa Rica; and the Loma Linda community in California.

And by now we are all familiar with the fact that these somewhat isolated locations - the Shangri-Las of the 1990s -- all shared certain foundational lifestyle elements that contributed to the unusual longevity of their inhabitants - including natural movement; simple, plant-based diets; a sense of purpose and strong family and community connections.

More importantly, these elements or principles can be successfully replicated - as they have been in Singapore, which currently boasts the highest average life expectancy in the world - and that means that there is the exciting possibility of creating new Blue Zones in many other parts of the world, including the Berg River Valley right here in the Western Cape Winelands.

Indeed, the Berg River Blue Zone Foundation (BRBZF) has already been formed to pursue the establishment of a Blue Zone in this valley - which is also known quite appropriately as the Valley of Life and already has many of the critical elements in place, including: 

*An environment that doesn't require people to go to gym to get exercise but naturally encourages physical activities like walking, cycling, horse-riding, golf, birdwatching and gardening - especially in secure lifestyle estates such as Val de Vie, Pearl Valley and Boschenmeer, as well as the village of Franschhoek.

*Easy access to fresh, whole foods and excellent wine, all produced by local farms and wineries. Residents of Blue Zones primarily consume coffee and wine in moderation, as well as a diet rich in whole grains, greens, tubers, legumes and fresh seasonal fruit, all of which are available in abundance in this area. Indeed, the quality of the local produce and wine is one of the main reasons that Franschhoek is known as the gourmet capital of SA - and is renowned among chefs and food-lovers worldwide.

*A community where it is easy to find your purpose, enjoy a sense of belonging and maintain strong social connections. Most residents here, like those in the original Blue Zones, are part of a close-knit community where they naturally interact with their neighbours and can create a purposeful life that includes service to others as well as whatever work they do for an income. Living in an estate like Val de Vie also creates many opportunities to participate in sports and other activities that help to build new friendships and strengthen the connections between family members of different ages.

*Peaceful, safe surroundings where residents feel secure and able to enjoy life to the full. Being stress and worry-free is a big part of the Blue Zone life, and the pleasant climate, fresh country air and magnificent mountain views in the Franschhoek Valley all contribute to residents' happiness and sense of calm as much as the first-rate security systems in Val de Vie and the other estates.

The BRBZF is currently implementing a Blue Zone pilot project in the Val de Vie Lifestyle Estate and aims to then steadily expand this to encompass the whole Berg River Valley. 

Now would thus be an opportune time to buy property in this area, where Chas Everitt has a strong team ready to help you find your perfect home. 

*For more information about acquiring property in the Berg River Blue Zone, contact Anneke Buys at Chas Everitt Paarl Winelands on +27 83 357 0082.