Is Morocco’s Sahara Desert a Hidden Blue Zone of Longevity?

As we drove through a desert storm in Morocco where it was hard to see anything outside the SUV windows, Mbarak, our young guide and driver, talked about his grandmother’s recent passing—at the age of 105! He shared that his dad still works the family farm at the ripe old age of 85, as if this were normal. He casually mentioned that many of his relatives and the greater Berber Tuareg nomads lived to over 100 years! Having recently watched the Netflix documentary on the Blue Zones with Dan Buettner, I knew this phenomenon was rare. Mbarak was on to something.

Is Morocco’s Desert Community a Longevity Blue Zone?

In this essay, I will share stories from Mbarak’s family and the lifestyle of the Berber Tuareg nomads in the context of Blue Zone characteristics. These are stories we heard firsthand in the Moroccan desert, though broader research is needed to draw a more certain conclusion.

Who are Morocco’s Berber Touareg Nomads?

The Tuareg are a large Berber ethnic group, traditionally nomads, living across the vast African Sahara region. They endure some of the harshest conditions on the planet, with extreme temperatures ranging from 40°F in winter to 110°F in summer, scarce resources, and virtually no modern amenities. Yet, they often live decades longer and healthier than the average American. How is that even possible?

For this article, we will focus on the Berber tribes in and around Morocco, as our guide Mbarak is a Berber Tuareg himself. He took us to visit nomadic homes where we met families still living in traditional ways. Some Berbers have settled in remote oases, maintaining a lifestyle close to nature.

What is Blue Zone?

‘Blue Zone’ is a term coined by Dan Buettner, a National Geographic Explorer and Fellow, and a journalist. He identified longevity hotspots where people live longer and healthier lives, often over 100 years of age.

His research led to the identification of key lifestyle traits known as the Power 9. Below, I evaluate the lives of Morocco’s Berber people based on these behaviors.

Berber Lifestyle vs Blue Zone Power 9

1. Move Naturally

Buettner found that the longest-lived people do not pump iron, run marathons or join gyms, but instead live in environments that nudge them into constant movement, without thinking about it.

Morocco’s Berber Touareg nomads live off the land. They eat what grows in the desert or what they can barter in villages. They tend to animals that need to be fed on scarce vegetation.

Nomads typically walk up to 50 km (31 miles) a day to graze their camels. The women raise the family and create beautiful crafts. They walk miles to trade their crafts in markets, in exchange for foods like flour and sugar.

Some families gave up the nomadic life, and chose to live near water sources. In the harsh desert, they grow vegetables, dates and rugged desert plants. They live off of the land, and work long hours on the farms in the extreme heat and cold, well into their 90s and beyond.

For both group, much of the food has been the same for hundreds of years – off the land, but gradually supplemented by the rare and more expensive processed foods.

2. Purpose

Buettner discovered what the Okinawans call Ikigai and the Nicoyans call Plan de Vida—a reason to wake up every morning.

Morocco’s Berber people work actively into old age. Mbarak’s grandmother and relatives over 100 years in age, have active jobs all their lives. There is no concept of retirement. Every person contributes to the household or farm, adding value to the community as a whole, irrespective of age.

The younger generation is expanding their horizon through education and travel. For example Mbarak went to college and can speak fluent English. He must be making better wages as a driver and guide to international travelers. Be more importantly, he is learning about the world, and its goods & bads. He is also being an ambassador of his nomadic heritage to the world.

Younger people taking other jobs, also means the older generation has the more critical function of running the kasba household.

3. Downshift

Dan found that even people in the Blue Zones experience stress. Stress leads to chronic inflammation, associated with every major age-related disease. What the world’s longest-lived people have that we don’t are routines to shed that stress.

The Berber Touareg nomads are mostly devout muslims. Like we’ve learnt from other healthy communities, it doesn’t matter what religion, but what matters deeply is that one has a practice that involves some faith, reflection, gratitude, meditation, celebration, and a strong community. The Berber people of Morocco likely reap benefits in their muslim community and comradely.

4. The 80% Rule

Dan found that Okinawans follow the Confucian mantra Hara hachi bu, reminding them to stop eating when 80% full. The 20% gap between not being hungry and feeling full could be the difference between losing weight or gaining it. People in the blue zones eat their smallest meal in the late afternoon or early evening and then they don’t eat any more the rest of the day.

Morocco’s Berber Touareg people eat three meals. But not until they are full or stuffed, but rather until they are ‘satisfied’. 

As muslims they fast during the month of Ramadan. We visited Morocco during Ramadan. Not a single local we came across ate or drank all day. Mbarak drove and guided us for a week and he always went for Iftar to break his fast in the evening. While day fast and night feast sounds contrary to circadian rhythm eating and sleeping research, I suppose benefits of fasting supersede the disruption is circadian rhythm.

Unlike Okinawans, Moroccan Berbers tend to eat their big meal at supper when the entire family can eat together. 

5. Plant Slant

Buettner found that legumes are a cornerstone of centenarian diets, with meat consumed in small amounts.

The typical diet of the Berber Touareg people include three meals – 

• Breakfast is mainly olive oil, tea, bread and eggs (if available). Alternatively, they eat dates with goat or camel cheese (all home grown). Breakfast is soon after sunrise. 
• For Lunch the nomads use dried vegetables with meat, cooked with spices and herbs. They eat it with the local bread. Lunch is around 2pm where ever they are.
• Dinner is similar to lunch but sometimes they also have lentil soup with meat or a couscous dish. Dinner is special. It is eaten at around 9pm together with the whole family. 

More features of the Berber diet

• All the Moroccan Berber food is organic and locally grown, usually from their own farm or animals.
• The amount of meat is very small, mostly used as a flavoring agent. Maybe about 300gm for a family of 4 in a day.
• They have tea with every meal because tea is typically used to refresh mind and reduce thirsty. 
• Big meats are reserved for special occasions.
• Dates are a special part of the diet. The grow are some of the best dates in the world, scrumptious, and a true super food. They are usually consumed every day.

6. Wine @ 5

Dan found that people in all blue zones (except Adventists) drink alcohol moderately and regularly.

As devout muslims, Moroccan Berber don’t consume alcohol. In that regard, they are more like the Christians of Loma Linda that also do not consumer alcohol. This habit probably compensates for other not-so-healthy habits.

7. Belong

Dan found that all but five of the 263 centenarians they interviewed belonged to some faith-based community.  Denomination doesn’t seem to matter.

Berber Tuareg people are deeply religious, practicing Islam or Judaism. Irrespective of the religion, their faith binds their communities, providing spiritual support and social cohesion. During daily Ramadan Iftar, I noticed, city workers on jobs far from home, gathered to pray and eat together. 

8. Loved Ones First

Centenarians in the blue zones put their families first, keeping aging parents and grandparents nearby or in the same home. They commit to a life partner and invest in their children with time and love.

Berbers live in large, multi-generational kasbas, each contributing in their way, each being an integral part of their social fabric. 

I remember, the day we stayed in the desert, in a camp close to Mbarak’s  home town, he drove all the way home to eat with his family and sleep at home. He could have broken fast elsewhere but he drove the distance. The next day he was distinctly happier, having seeing everyone at home. 

In marriage, nomad couples are typically faithfully to each other and marry for the long term. However divorce is allowed. 

9. Right Tribe

Dan found that the world’s longest-lived people have social circles that support healthy behaviors. Okinawans created moais–groups of five friends that committed to each other for life. Research from the Framingham Studies shows that smoking, obesity, happiness, and even loneliness are contagious. So the social networks of long-lived people have favorably shaped their health behaviors.

Berbers live in multi-family, multi-generational house (called kasbas) with deep rooted value systems that are carried from generation to generation. We saw some kasbas almost the size and population of a small village. Just the culture of everyone knows and cares for everyone else, I believe leads to higher morals which leads to peace and a good night’s sleep.

Berber Behaviors Beyond the Power 9

Healthy microbiome and Immunity

The Berber nomads live in nature exposed to the elements, along side their animals. In a day and age when we live in isolation as humans, they live in tents along side tents for their goats, camels, and sheep. Kids hang out with their animals and adults handle them all day. They do not use alcohol wipes and gels.

This probably contributes to a rich, abundant, and diverse microbiome. This contrasts with the sterile environments of modern societies, where microbiome depletion is linked to various diseases. We now know the crucial role our microbiome plays in our health, immunity, organ function, obesity, and many disease prevention. 

Berbers rely on natural immunity, far from hospitals and modern medications. Interestingly, we heard that no one in their desert communities fell ill during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fashion and Modern Stressors 

Increasingly, people around the world are adopting a western wardrobes, and dizzying fast fashion cycles. Gone are the days when people possessed a few garments made with care, from local textiles, suitable for local climate, while enriching local cultures. 

Traditional Moroccans Berber men still wear the local outfits called Jellaba, made by hand, with care, and quality. They possess only a few pieces that last years, decades or even generations. 

Most men possess a light Jellaba for summer and a heavy woolen Jellaba for winter. The wool is usually from their own sheep, goat, or camel. They also possess a festive outfit for ceremonies and celebrations. 

It is pretty common for a man to make a special Jellaba in their 20s, wear it into their old age, and then pass on to his son. Just like Mbarek’s dad did. If a garment is damaged, they simple mend it. 

This slow fashion approach eliminates stress from excessive consumption and contributes to environmental sustainability.

Stress free life

Mbarak often spoke of an stress-free desert life. We saw it firsthand during an afternoon with a nomadic family, outside Merzouga not too far from the Algerian border in the Sahara. 

The young mom with two kids, a few goats, and chicken tended to her nomadic tent and us, the only visitors in the desert.

Her husband was out with the camels. She showed us the beautiful rug she was weaving and would take to the market someday. The friendly kids hung out with us and showed off their animals.

We had tea together in the cool shade of the large woolen tent, made of their own animal wool. It kept the extremely desert weather elements out and last them for many relocations over generations.

It was a carefree afternoon of peace, untouched by consumerism, interruptions, and the fear of missing out.

Conclusion: A Hidden Blue Zone in the Sahara?

Reading the behaviors of Blue Zones, we see that each embodies certain ‘healthy’ lifestyle habits and some known to be detrimental. But the body has a way of thriving when given a chance.

In the vast, golden expanse of Morocco’s desert, where the sun paints the sands and time seems to stand still, a secret to longevity quietly thrives. The Berber Tuareg people naturally embody many of the Power 9 principles, yet further research is needed to confirm whether they constitute a true Blue Zone. What do you think?