Improving quality of life and longevity in communities is topic of Tulsa Town Hall – Tulsa World

Fridays speaker at the Tulsa Town Hall lecture series challenged Tulsans to think collectively rather than individually about improving longevity and quality of life.

Nick Buettner is director of community and corporate programs for the Blue Zones Project, a community-wide well-being improvement initiative based on lessons gleaned from locales around the globe with the highest concentrations of people living to 100 years and beyond.

He began with a quick audience survey of predictors of longer-than-average life expectancy: Do you sleep at least 7 hours five days a week? Do you eat at least three full servings of vegetables and get at least 30 minutes of vigorous exercise daily?

Had no unprotected sex during the last year? Belong to a faith-based institution and attend three times per month? Do you have three good friends who would answer if you call on a bad day? Have you not smoked in the past five years?

Do you actually want to live to 90?

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If you raised your hand all eight times, youre dismissed I have nothing to teach you, Buettner ended the survey, prompting uproarious laughter.

The Blue Zones Project, which was founded by Buettners brother and best-selling author Dan Buettner, is based on observations and scientific data from centers of extraordinary human longevity including Ikaria, Greece; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Okinawa, Japan; and Loma Linda, California.

The Blue Zones Project aims to improve the quality of life and longevity of individuals through community-wide improvements in cities, states and even within workplaces.

Unlike many health or wellness initiatives, the Blue Zones Project addresses the environment, not just individual behavior changes in an effort to have widespread, long-term impacts.

The nearest locale to try it has been the Pottawatomie County Blue Zones Project, which began in 2017, Buettner said.

For example, instead of nagging people to exercise, communities can make walking not only the healthy choice but also the easier choice through sidewalk improvements and walking initiatives.

And communities can work together to make wholesome foods more accessible at schools, restaurants and food banks so people in Blue Zones begin to eat healthier naturally.

The crux of Buettners message is what his brother dubbed The Power 9, the common lifestyle habits found in the worlds healthiest, longest-lived people.

The first is to move naturally. What does that mean?

It doesnt mean going to a gym or training for marathons, which Buettner said the vast majority of people wont sustain as a habit. Its about habitually walking or biking to a friends house, to the grocery store, to school, or gardening and other active activities.

Next is purpose. Buettner said the loss of purpose and engagement, with that reason to get up each morning, is what makes people 30% more likely to die in the year after they retire.

The Japanese call it Ikigai, which translates to lifes purpose.

Third is having routines to shed stress, or what Blue Zones calls down shift. This varies by centers of longevity and includes praying, napping and even regular happy hours with friends and family.

Fourth is the 80% rule: Stop eating before your stomach is all the way full as a simple means of managing caloric intake. Buettner said people in the Blue Zones also eat their smallest meal in the late afternoon or early evening and dont eat again until the next day.

Fifth is having a happy hour of one to two glasses of wine regularly and that does not translate to having 14 drinks on the weekend, Buettner said.

Sixth, active, regular engagement in faith-based communities was common across all centenarians studied by the Blue Zones Project.

Seventh was a mostly plant-based diet.

And no, Buettner said that doesnt mean vegan or vegetarian. But in large centenarian clusters, cow milk is not part of the diet, meat is limited to fewer than five meals per month and fish to three times or fewer per week; water, tea, coffee or wine are the common beverages consumed.

Eighth is a family-first priority in life, including not just children but also maintaining a life partner and caring for nearby, aging parents and grandparents.

Lastly is what Blue Zones refers to as having the right tribe. Simply put, it means being in social circles with people with similarly healthy habits and behaviors.

Buettner said it is critical for communities to identify what is working and what isnt and to implement the kinds of changes that make healthy choices easier to make.

To date, 56 communities and 4,823 organizations participate in the Blue Zones Project, but the lessons about what improvements work are applicable most everywhere and urgently needed, he said.

The life expectancy of our kids is less than our own, Buettner said. We spend $3 trillion on health care costs for (preventable) diseases.

201 E. Second St.

An ideal place for people-watching, the ground-floor patio is open to the public. As always, we LOVE the cheese-fries.

222 S. Kenosha Ave.

The patio area at this new addition to the East Village neighborhood wraps around two sides of the building, giving diners plenty of vantage points from which to watch lifes rich pageant. The food has a distinctive Middle Eastern flair, paired with its range of craft cocktails, wines and beers.

1816 Utica Square

Queenies Plus moved up the sidewalk this year to a larger space, complete with a much larger patio area that faces 21st Street. Its the perfect place to enjoy a breakfast treat or lunch.

1551 E. 15th St.

The restaurants staff used the down-time to spruce up its patio area and space out the tables to put more distance between groups of diners. Otherwise, the same good vibes and fine foods remain at this Cherry Street hot spot.

1740 S. Boston Ave.

The Tulsa Worlds pick as the best restaurant of 2020 has a covered patio outside its entrance, equipped with fans and heaters, to allow diners to savor chef Lisa Becklunds 10-course tasting menu in the cool of the evening.

1820 Utica Square

The Wild Fork is another Tulsa landmark that took advantage of the lockdown to transform itself, with a completely renovated interior and slightly slimmed down menu. The restaurants sidewalk seating was also given a boost with new seating and an expanded footprint. The food and the people watching are just as good as ever.

3324 E. 31st St.

Bird & Bottles neighbors gave the restaurant permission to put tables out on the sidewalks to augment the small open space it uses for outdoor seating. Its something of a secluded spot, but its likely youll be too focused on chef Stephen Lindstroms food to miss any people-watching.

319 E. Archer St.

The interior of the new French Hen is spectacular, to say the least. But the restaurants patio area gives one the sense of dining at a Parisian outdoor cafe in the middle of downtown Tulsa. Whether enjoyed inside or out, chef Kathy Bondys food is superb.

817 E. Third St.

One of Tulsas finest restaurants just happens to have one of the citys finest patios. Thats one reason why it fills up quickly, as seating here is first-come, first-served.

9999 S. Mingo Road

One of the more spacious patios of any local restaurant can be found at this south Tulsa restaurant, where people can enjoy its specialty burgers and craft beers as well as a bit of the great outdoors.

1324 S. Main St.

What general manager Tracey Sudberry once described as the most under-utilized space in the Ambassador Hotel was transformed earlier this year with louvered awnings, fans and heaters, new tables and chairs, to create a comfortable space in which to enjoy the Chalkboards acclaimed cuisine.

108 N. Detroit Ave.

Duets patio also serves as the stage for many of the local, regional and national jazz acts that perform there regularly. But its also a good place to enjoy Duets array of good food and libations.

4532 E. 51st St.

When this outpost of a small regional chain moved into town, it completely transformed the space once home to the Green Onion, adding a spacious patio on the buildings north side.Its a good place to work ones way through the restaurants extensive drinks menu.

201 W. Fifth St.

About half a dozen or so tables take up the patio area of this family restaurant, which is almost always full on pleasant days. Enjoy one of the variations of pho, the savory broth loaded with noodles and your choice of proteins.

1124 S. Lewis Ave.

Mother Road Market reopened its patio area to give its merchants who werent able at the time to handle curbside delivery a way to serve their customers. Now, with the markets app, one can have just about any dish from any vendor delivered to ones socially distanced table.

318 E. Second St.

Arnies renovated its courtyard area last year, adding a stone fireplace and a mosaic of the classic Lovely Day for a Guinness image.

514 S. Boston Ave.

Libby Billings helped kickstart the parklet boom in downtown Tulsa, turning a parking space or two into a welcoming place to enjoy Elotes signature puffy tacos and other area-sourced Mexican specialties.

121 S. Elgin Ave.

Hotel Indigos rooftop patio, home to the Roof Sixty-Six Bar, boasts some of the best views of Tulsa. Because the patio faces west, visitors are also able to grab epic sunset photos during their stay.

3509 S. Peoria Ave.

Cafe Ol has been a dining destination on Brookside for 30 years, serving up Southwestern-inspired cuisine with some Oklahoma flair. The Tin Pan Tuesday specials let you sample street foods for $2 each, and the housemade queso is a must.

Mayo Hotel, 115 W. Fifth St.

Almost 20 stories off the ground, what better way to enjoy a specialty cocktail and one of Tulsas phenomenal sunsets?

818 E. Third St.

This East Village spot has a cozy patio space that is the perfect place to enjoy some treats, such as the Craigies Angry Bee pizza, which tempers the bite of hot peppers with honey.

122 N. Boston Ave.

Amelias offers patio seating in the heart of the Tulsa Arts District. Enjoy a glass of wine or one of the wood-fired pizzas while people-watching on the patio.

7501 E. Kenosha St., Broken Arrow

The Rocking R Ranch House at Forest Ridge Golf Club offers patio seating in nice weather. Try the Sweet Heat shrimp appetizer, featuring crispy shrimp tossed in a sweet and spicy aioli.

111 N. Main St.

Right in the heart of the Tulsa Arts District, Laffa Medi-Eastern Restaurant and Bar has a great patio to watch the world go by. Check out the Mezze Medley small shareable plates with a huge piece of laffa bread. Our favorites are the West African hummus with sweet potatoes and peanuts, or the Anatolian labneh, a creamy yogurt dip.

304 S. Elgin Ave.

Enjoy a view of the Tulsa skyline at the biergarten at Fassler Hall. Grab a beer and an order of duck fat fries.

1004 E. Fourth St.

Grab a brew and relax in the outdoor area at Dead Armadillo Brewery.

325 E. Reconciliation Way

Pizzas dominate the menu of this family-friendly sports bar, with its 55 TV screens. One of the more unusual, but tasty, choices is the white potato thin potato slices topped with pecorino cheese, rosemary and onion on a relatively thin and crispy crust.

River Spirit Casino Resort, 8330 Riverside Parkway

The patio of the Margaritaville restaurant is part of a triple-decker outdoor venue. Above Margaritaville is the Salty Bar, an area typically reserved for private events, with lounge furniture and a dedicated bar area. On the ground level is the Landshark Pool Bar, which serves the resorts guests in the lounge pool and the hungry and thirsty trekkers along the River Parks trails.

Oren

3509 S. Peoria Ave., Suite 161

This stunning restaurant on Brookside features a plush patio that is perfect for drinks.

3523 S. Peoria Ave.

The front patio is good for people-watching in Brookside, and the back courtyard has been popular among evening diners. Both are dog friendly. Try the shrimp and grits.

8921 S. Yale Ave.

The patio was the main reason owner Todd Billingsly took over the space that used to be Jamesons Pub, to make it a venue for live music and televised sports, as well as dining.

3301 S. Peoria Ave.

Bricktown Brewery in Brookside specializes in local and regional craft beers. As for the food, the Loaded Nachosaurus is a perfect partner for a flight of beers.

402 E. Second St./211 S. Elgin Ave.

Guests can get a two-for-one deal here. The Dilly Diner courtyard has a bocce ball court, picnic tables and playhouses for the kids. The quirky Dust Bowl patio has artificial grass-covered sofas and spring stools. A walkway connects the two.

7031 S. Zurich Ave.

This companion restaurant to McNellies Pub downtown has become a popular destination spot for south Tulsans looking for a great brew, outstanding pub food and a good time. We recommend the lobster roll or the top-flight fish and chips.

151 Bass Pro Drive, Broken Arrow

300 Riverwalk Terrace, Jenks

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Improving quality of life and longevity in communities is topic of Tulsa Town Hall - Tulsa World