Dan Buettner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dan Buettner
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Buettner in October 2010
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| Born | June 18, 1960 |
| Nationality | American |
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Dan Buettner (born June 18, 1960) is an American explorer, author, and public speaker. He studies places where people live very long and healthy lives. These special places are called "Blue Zones."
He also helped create the TV show Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones. This show is based on his book about these amazing places. Dan Buettner holds three Guinness World Records for long-distance cycling. He is also a Fellow with National Geographic.
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About Dan Buettner
Dan Buettner was born on June 18, 1960, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He went to the University of St. Thomas and finished his studies in 1983.
Amazing Bike Journeys
Dan Buettner is known for his incredible bike trips around the world. He set several Guinness World Records for these journeys.
- In 1986, he launched "Americastrek." He cycled 15,536 miles (25,003 km) from Alaska to Argentina.
- In 1990, he and his brother Steve went on "Sovietrek." They cycled 12,888 miles (20,741 km) around the world. Dan wrote a book about this trip called Sovietrek.
- In 1992, the Buettner brothers and Dr. Chip Thomas cycled "Africatrek." They rode 11,885 miles (19,127 km) from Tunisia to South Africa. This trip took eight months.
Discovering Blue Zones
Dan Buettner realized that many people were interested in his adventures. He then got an idea to study places where people live much longer than average. He worked with National Geographic on this project.
He teamed up with scientists and experts to find these special places. They looked for areas where many people lived to be 100 years old or more.
What are Blue Zones?
A "Blue Zone" is a place in the world where people live longer and healthier lives. They often reach ages over 100. These communities share common lifestyle habits that help them stay healthy.
Dan Buettner's early research found these Blue Zones:
- Sardinia, Italy
- Okinawa, Japan
- Loma Linda, California, United States
In 2005, Dan shared his findings in a cover story for National Geographic Magazine. It was called "Secrets of Long Life."
Later, he found more Blue Zones:
- The Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica (found in 2006)
- The Greek Island of Ikaria (found in 2008)
Books About Blue Zones
Dan Buettner has written many books about his discoveries. These books share the secrets of how people in Blue Zones live.
- In 2008, he released The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest.
- In 2010, he wrote Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way. This book looked at the happiest places on Earth.
- In 2015, he published The Blue Zones Solution: Eating and Living Like the World's Healthiest People. This book became a New York Times Best Seller.
- In 2019, he wrote The Blue Zones Kitchen with photographer David McLain. This book shares recipes from the Blue Zones.
Blue Zones Projects
Dan Buettner wanted to help American towns become healthier, like the Blue Zones. He created the "Blue Zones Project" to do this.
Making Towns Healthier
In 2008, Dan started a project in Albert Lea, Minnesota. The goal was to help the whole town live healthier. Instead of just focusing on individuals, the project changed the town's environment. This made it easier for people to make healthy choices.
The results in Albert Lea were amazing:
- People walked and biked 80% more.
- City workers' healthcare costs went down by 49%.
- Smoking decreased by 4%.
- The community lost 12,000 pounds.
- People walked 75 million more steps.
- The average life expectancy for the town increased by three years!
After this success, the Blue Zones Project expanded. It worked with communities in California, Iowa, Texas, Hawaii, Florida, Indiana, and Oregon. These projects helped people eat better, exercise more, and improve their health.
TV Mini Series
In 2023, Dan Buettner helped create a TV mini series called Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones. He also appeared in the show. It explores the Blue Zones and their secrets for long life.
Public Speaking
Dan Buettner often shares his knowledge through public talks. He has spoken at important events like:
- Bill Clinton's Global Initiative in 2013.
- Google Zeitgeist in 2012.
- A TED talk in 2009 called "How to live to be 100+". This talk has been viewed over 4.7 million times.
Personal Life
Dan Buettner eats a diet that is mostly plant-based. This means he eats a lot of fruits, vegetables, and plant foods. This is similar to the diets of people in the Blue Zones.
