Massachusetts Among Top States To Live To 100: Study

MASSACHUSETTS — A new study has placed Massachusetts in its rankings of America’s future blue zones, with the state coming in third place, according to Forbes Health.

A blue zone is an area where people live longer and better than average, with residents consistently reaching 100 years old. Massachusetts is considered among the leaders for U.S. states poised to become future blue zones.

In the recent study, Massachusetts ranked first for community well-being and fourth for life expectancy at birth at 79 years old, Forbes Health found.

Overall, New England fares well in the analysis. Here's the full top 10 blue zones in the U.S.:

1. Vermont
2. New York
3. Massachusetts
4. Connecticut
5. Rhode Island
6. New Hampshire
7. Oregon
8. Hawaii
9. Maine
10. California

The Forbes Health analysis included factors such as access to whole, plant-based foods, physical activity, a sense of community, and sleep. It also weighed life expectancy in all states.

Vermont came in first in part due to its residents' prolific consumption of vegetables.

Jackie Newgent, a plant-forward registered dietitian nutritionist, author, and Forbes Health Advisory Board member, had this to say about diets associated with longer lives: “There are many reasons why eating less meat and more plants can potentially help you live longer, but it’s partly associated with the benefits on the gut microbiome and the anti-inflammatory effects of plant-based eating.”

Read the full study at Forbes Health.

This isn't the first health study that put the Bay State near the top. Last year, a WalletHub report listed Massachusetts as among the least overweight states in the U.S.

See related: Massachusetts Among Least Overweight States In U.S.: New Study