Dan Buettner's High Longevity Rate

In Dan Buettner’s transcript (2010) of “How To Live To 100+” he presents a few blue zone areas from around the globe. Blue zones are where there is a high longevity rate. Buettner went to the island of Sardinia, which is off the cost of Italy, the northern part of Okinawa which is located south of Tokyo, and he found America’s blue zone in Loma Linda California. He states that all three of these places share a plant-based diet which helps with their high longevity rate, but research shows that yes it can be a good diet to have but it may not be right for everybody and that there are risks.
The first risk I came across while doing my research is iron deficiency. The Permanente
Journal (2016) says while some plants contain iron they still have …show more content…
If a person’s iron level gets to low it can cause iron deficiency anemia, even though it is rare there is always that risk. According to Mayo Clinic (2016) iron deficiency anemia means that the body cannot produce hemoglobin, which gives the red color to the red blood cells. If the red blood cells cannot get the hemoglobin needed, then the cells cannot correctly carry oxidized blood to the rest of the body. Other complications consist of extreme fatigue, dizziness, lightheadedness, chest pain, fast heartbeat, and more. All the symptoms from iron deficiency may complicate a person’s longevity.
Secondly, another risk due to a plant-based diet is Vitamin B12 deficiency. John Hopkins
Medicine states that vitamin B12 is necessary for the body to be able to produce blood formation and cell division. The lack of B12 causes vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, which can be extremely dangerous. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the entire body, and with a lack of B12 there will be a lack of healthy red blood cells to follow. Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia

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then has the impact on the body such as decrease in appetite, weight loss, irritability, lack …show more content…
Thirdly, Vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for this plant-base longevity diet. The
Permanente Journal (2016) and the National Institutes of Health (2016) goes on to state that vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium to keep the bones in a mineralized state; also, vitamin
D is needed for bone growth, cell growth, immune function, reduced inflammation and more. In someone who has the lack of this vitamin the bones may become brittle and thin, and in older adults who have this deficiency may develop osteoporosis since, vitamin D protects against that condition. The best food sources to obtain vitamin D include mackerel, salmon, and, tuna. Very few natural foods actually contain the needed vitamin D.
Next a person can suffer through calcium deficiency. When an individual lacks the calcium that the body needs then it effects the bones. This deficiency impairs the bone mineralization and bone function according to The Permanente Journal (2016). This causes the bones to be fragile and may cause them to break easily.
Lastly, a person may suffer from essential fatty acid deficiency. Essential fatty acids consist of omega 3 and omega 6. These fatty acids are needed to help keep hair, nails, and

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