— Bubbles with Benefits
Embracing the Blue Zone Lifestyle with Crunchy Hydration
In a world where longevity and well-being are becoming key indicators of a life well-lived, the concept of Blue Zones has emerged as a beacon of healthy living. Coined by Dan Buettner, Blue Zones are regions of the world where people live significantly longer and healthier lives than the global average. The people in these areas not only live longer but thrive in their later years, maintaining physical and mental vitality well into their 90s and beyond.
Our commitment to community wellness has led us to partner with the Outer Banks Blue Zone Initiative, a local effort to bring the Blue Zone lifestyle to North Carolina’s beloved coastal region. The Outer Banks is known for its natural beauty, but now it’s on a mission to become a certified Blue Zone community, fostering healthier habits and longer lives for residents and visitors alike.
What sets these communities apart? It’s a way of life built on nine core principles—what Buettner calls the Power 9. These pillars form the foundation of a Blue Zone lifestyle and include:
- Move Naturally – Incorporating physical activity into daily life, like gardening or walking, rather than structured exercise.
- Purpose – Waking up with a reason to get out of bed every day.
- Downshift – Taking time to rest, reflect, and shed stress.
- 80% Rule – Eating until you’re 80% full, rather than until you’re stuffed.
- Plant Slant – Favoring a plant-based diet, with minimal animal products.
- Wine at 5 – Enjoying moderate alcohol, especially wine, with friends and family.
- Belong – Participating in a community that shares a strong sense of faith or belonging.
- Loved Ones First – Prioritizing family and close connections.
- Right Tribe – Surrounding yourself with people who support healthy behaviors.
At Crunchy Hydration, these principles resonate deeply with our mission. We believe in providing a functional beverage that complements a mindful, health-conscious lifestyle—helping people make small, impactful choices every day. Our drinks, infused with adaptogenic herbs and L-theanine, support stress relief and balance, aligning with the Downshift pillar. With no sugar or artificial ingredients, Crunchy Hydration also promotes healthy eating habits in line with the 80% Rule and Plant Slant principles. At our core, Crunchy has always been about community, and that is what the Blue Zones are all about.
In the spirit of this movement, I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Christina Bowen and Amy Montgomery, two leaders spearheading the “Paint the Outer Banks Blue” campaign. We have partnered with them and the community on two separate events to date to help raise money and promote the Blue Zone Initiative. They shared valuable insights on the initiative’s progress, its impact on the local community, and how Crunchy Hydration is playing a role in supporting healthier, more mindful choices.
Here’s what they had to say about the Blue Zone certification process and what it means for the future of the Outer Banks. The following interview has been shortened and transcribed from a recorded session for clarity and brevity.
Dr. Christina Bowen:
“I’m the Medical Director for the Center for Healthy Living, a family medicine physician, and also the Chief Well-Being Officer for ECU Health. Well-being is very close to my heart, especially for the community in the Outer Banks where I live and practice.”
Amy Montgomery:
“I’m on the administrative team at Outer Banks Health. I oversee a couple of operational departments, but I also work closely with Christina and the community health outreach team. We’re on a path to enhance the well-being and longevity of the people living here.”
Heather Herring, Crunchy COO:
“What inspired you both to partner with Blue Zones?”
Christina Bowen:
“We recognized, through our work with cancer services, that we’ve made incredible strides in reducing mortality rates in the Outer Banks. Under Amy’s leadership and alongside Dr. Trey Shelton, we’ve seen our cancer mortality rates improve beyond the state average, which wasn’t the case 13 years ago. This success opened our eyes to the importance of prevention—not just for cancer, but for chronic diseases as a whole. That’s the mission of Outer Banks Health, and the Blue Zones philosophy aligns so perfectly with this holistic approach to health and well-being.”
Amy Montgomery:
“It’s our next frontier. We’ve spent over a decade growing our Cancer Services program, working on prevention, screenings, and even building a Cancer Center. But once that was done, we asked, ‘What’s next?’ The answer was clear—well-being. We know there are places around the world where people are living longer and healthier lives, and there isn’t even a hospital in sight. It’s those nine pillars of the Blue Zones philosophy that we feel responsible and passionate about sharing with our community.”
Heather Herring: How does the Blue Zones philosophy align with your mission at Outer Banks Health?
Christina Bowen:
“We feel not only responsible but passionate about ensuring our community understands the Blue Zones pillars of well-being. There are nine principles that these long-living communities follow—things like natural movement, eating wisely, and connecting socially—and we want to partner with our community to help them live healthier, longer lives.”
Amy Montgomery:
“We’re already there for our community in critical ways—whether in the emergency room or treating cancer. But well-being goes beyond that. We want to empower people with the knowledge that their daily choices can greatly impact their health and longevity. That’s what partnering with Blue Zones is about for us. It’s a natural extension of our existing healthcare services but focuses more on prevention and sustainable well-being.”
Heather Herring:
“Are there any challenges you’re facing as you plan for the Blue Zones initiative?”
Amy Montgomery:
“Communication is always a challenge. We were in focus groups recently, and people were saying, ‘I didn’t know about that,’ when we shared what already exists in the community. Until you need a service, you’re not always looking for it. We want people to know about these things, like the Power Nine principles. So, how do we reach people who aren’t actively seeking this information? How do we share that there are simple things they can do to enhance their well-being, like drinking Crunchy Hydration?
We want people to be aware of these everyday practices, whether it’s through Blue Zones or the other health services we offer. Getting that message out effectively is key.”
Heather Herring: That’s a great point. Part of the keynote speech last night by Danny Buettner asked some compelling questions. Even though I’ve read and watched content on Blue Zones before, when you sit down and someone asks you directly about your habits, it makes you think, ‘Am I really living as healthy as I could?’ I believe that communication is crucial, and we want to do what we can to help spread that message.and presence on social media, so we’d love to use our platform to support this initiative. Even though we’re just a small piece of this puzzle, I think every contribution makes an impact. We align with the Blue Zones mission through our focus on simple, healthy acts—like hydration without sugar or sugar alternatives—and we’d love to continue supporting your events and outreach efforts.”
Christina Bowen:
“That’s wonderful to hear! It’s those simple acts, like you said, that make a difference. Hydration, natural movement, connecting with others—these are all part of the Blue Zones principles. With partners like Crunchy Hydration, who understand the importance of promoting healthy habits, we can extend our message even further. I want to give a plug here because, honestly, Crunchy Hydration has been a godsend for our patients. As a family medicine and lifestyle medicine practitioner, I see a lot of patients struggling with emotional well-being. If we don’t have emotional well-being, it’s very hard for people to make positive lifestyle changes. One of the things I’ve noticed, which I think isn’t unique to the Outer Banks, is the use of alcohol to decompress and unwind. While the Blue Zones advocate for enjoying wine in moderation—typically in a social setting with friends—many of my patients are using alcohol more frequently as a coping mechanism.
Crunchy Hydration has been a fantastic alternative. I feel good recommending it to my patients because I know they’re putting something truly healthy into their bodies. It helps them make more mindful choices about how they unwind and manage stress. Amy and I both appreciate how Crunchy Hydration fits into our own efforts to be mindful of alcohol consumption. It’s a great option that aligns so well with the Blue Zones principles, which emphasize moderation and overall well-being.”
Heather Herring:
“That’s a great point. It’s one of the reasons we love making mocktails with Crunchy Hydration. We’ve had so many people reach out to say that Crunchy helped them reduce or stop drinking alcohol altogether. Replacing that glass of wine at the end of the day with something healthier has made a big impact on their well-being. I am trying to drink less, so one thing I do is pour a Crunchy into a wine glass, it keeps me from going for that second glass.”
Heather Herring:
” I know that you are looking for lots of local business support as this initiative continues to get its legs. Restaurants are a big part of that. We love partnering with local restaurants that carry Crunchy. It’s great to see a growing mocktail menu culture here in the Outer Banks. People who don’t want to drink shouldn’t have to keep explaining why, and a pretty mocktail in hand takes away the pressure. No one’s asking questions—they’re just enjoying the experience.”
Amy Montgomery:
“I love that idea! It would be amazing to see more restaurants offering mocktail options and supporting this shift in mindset. We’re working with local restaurants as well as other businesses as part of the Blue Zones initiative. To become Blue Zones certified, businesses like grocery stores will need to meet certain metrics. One idea is to have Blue Zones aisles in grocery stores, where people can find products that support longevity and well-being.”
Christina Bowen:
“And it’s not just about restaurants or stores as far as Crunchy goes. My dream is to see Crunchy Hydration in vending machines. I’d love to see it in health systems, high schools, and other public vending options. Imagine how empowering it would be for young people to have healthier choices readily available.”
Heather Herring:
“That would be incredible. We’d love to help make that happen. Speaking of helping, let’s talk mocktails again! We should come up with a signature Outer Banks mocktail that we can debut at an upcoming Blue Zone event.”
Amy Montgomery:
“Yes! This is a fantastic idea! I would love to see the use of the prickly pear. The prickly pear cactus grows all over the Outer Banks, and it would be perfect for a mocktail. We could create a Blue Zones-inspired drink that embodies the spirit of the Outer Banks. I love it.”
Here are some of the mocktail recipes we made for the “Painting the Outer Banks Blue Gala”.
Crunchy Hydration is proud to be part of the Outer Banks Blue Zones Initiative, helping to bring healthier choices to the community.
Our shared mission with Blue Zones is simple—enhance well-being and longevity through mindful living, and support positive lifestyle changes, one sip at a time. Whether you’re choosing a Crunchy mocktail over a glass of wine or reaching for one to keep you hydrated throughout the day, we’re here to help you make small, healthy changes that lead to a longer, happier life. Stay tuned for more updates on our Blue Zones partnership and our continued efforts to bring better health to the Outer Banks.
