Burnd Co-Founder Featured in AJC Blue Zones Longevity Feature

What do the world's longest-lived communities have in common? According to a new feature in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the answer has less to do with trendy supplements and more to do with five surprisingly simple daily habits. Spending time outside is right at the center of it.

Journalist Avery Newmark dives deep into Blue Zone research, the decades-long study of communities around the world - from Ikaria, Greece to Okinawa, Japan - where people routinely live past 100. The piece explores what science consistently finds: movement woven into daily life, connection over shared meals, a reason to get up each morning, and yes, time spent outdoors in the sun.

"We need to be outside, we were built for it, and the sun is literally part of our biology."

That's where Burnd comes in. Dr. Mark Mitchnick, pediatrician and Burnd co-founder, was tapped by the AJC as a medical voice on the relationship between sun exposure and long-term health. His take cuts through the noise on a topic that's often misunderstood.

Dr. Mitchnick's guidance is grounded and practical: short exposures during low-UV hours are generally fine without sunscreen, while extended midday time calls for broad-spectrum protection and a hat. He also highlights that the habits we model matter just as much as the habits we practice, particularly for kids who learn by watching the adults around them.

The piece highlights the five longevity habits shared across Blue Zone communities: moving naturally, spending time outdoors, eating well, sharing meals with others, and living with a strong sense of purpose.

The article is a compelling reminder that longevity isn't about restriction. It's about living fully, outdoors and with others. And doing it with smart protection so nothing slows you down.

Read the full feature on AJC to get the complete picture on Blue Zone habits, the science behind them, and Dr. Mitchnick's full perspective on what it really means to protect your skin without avoiding the sun.

Read the full article →