Staying healthy while having fun

By Macy Taylor, Blue Zones Albert Lea intern

By learning from the lifestyles of people living in Blue Zones, experts in healthy living and longevity recommend an hour of exercise five times a week. There are four different types of exercise: strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. Ideally, people implement all four types into their routine to stay healthy. Starting with a simple, easy exercise like a daily stroll leads the way for more healthy practices to follow. 

The Freeborn County Fairgrounds encompasses 45 acres of land, with around 2 miles of paved and gravel paths. The fair is perfect for walking, an example of a low-intensity endurance exercise that people in the Blue Zones of the world do every day. Try tracking your steps and see how many you can get in for a day of exploring the Freeborn County Fair, happening now through Aug. 4. Bring a partner with you and challenge each other to walk the entirety of the animal barns, exhibit buildings, or the historical museum complex. Whatever you decide, take joy in committing to practices that promote a healthier and longer life.

Explore the festivities of the Freeborn County Fair, have fun with friends and family, and build up your very own Blue Zones’ power: move naturally. Visit the fair’s website for more information.

Read more about healthy habits in the Blue Zones books by Dan Buettner at the Albert Lea Public Library, 211 E. Clark St.