What does the Sardinian mountain area of Italy have in common with a city named Loma Linda in San Bernardino County, California?
The answer is, there are people in these parts of the world who live longer than those living anywhere else. Their longevity seems to be linked closely to their life’s habits, with their diets and outlooks of life playing major roles.
Blue Zones: Where the world’s oldest people live
Thanks to a Belgian demographer named Michel Poulain and an Italian doctor named Gianni Pes, a population in the region of Barbaglia (Sardinia, Italy), where people lived to be octogenarians, nonagenarians, centenarians, and even supercentenarians (people who have reached the age of 110) was revealed. It was discovered too that Barbaglia boasts the largest concentration of centenarians compared to anywhere else in the world. The two men marked out the area on their map with blue ink, hence this region came to be known as the Blue Zone. More blue zones, where people lived considerably longer lives, were discovered when an American researcher named Dan Buettner noted similar longevity rates in other parts of the world, namely Okinawa (Japan), Ikaria (Greece), Loma Linda (California) and Nicoya Peninsula (Costa Rica). Each area had their own practices (dietary/lifestyle) that seem to lead to their longevity.
Loma Linda ( California, USA): Where faith and self-respect precedes all
Most of the residents in the lively community of Loma Linda are Seventh-day Adventist, where their faith instructs them to treat their bodies as temples: little or no meat or fish, no smoking or alcohol, plenty of exercise and a sense of purpose. Families take a whole day off in a week just to relax or socialise – absolutely no homework, office work, etc.
If you were to visit the Loma Linda Market, it’s said that you’ll not find a meat section; just scores of beans, grains, fruits and vegetables. While not everyone is a full vegetarian, and some do consume a bit of meat or fish, the residents on the whole practice a truly holistic lifestyle when it comes to mental, spiritual and physical health.
Okinawa (Japan): What people in Okinawa do differently
The people of Okinawa, an island southwest of Japan’s main landmass, are known for their longevity. The women, in particular, tend to live longer than women from any other parts of the world! Almost every Okinawan centenarian consume a plant-based diet of stir-fried fresh vegetables, sweet potatoes and soy-based foods such as tofu. Their consumption of bitter gourd, (goya), known to be rich in antioxidants and compounds that lower blood sugar, is noteworthy when it comes to useful longevity secrets. Many of them source these from their family’s own garden. Mugwort, ginger, and turmeric thrive in almost all Okinawan gardens, and by consuming these regularly, Okinawans may be protecting themselves against illness and other symptoms of aging. One more thing about Okinawan elders – they’re able to leave all the troubles and difficulties of the past, in the past while they enjoy current, day-to-day simple pleasures. They also value being likable and to enjoy the company of the younger generations well into their old age. To top it all off, they were never into slathering sunblock and staying indoors, for they’d rather enjoy a healthy dose of sunshine.
Barbaglia (Sardinia, Italy): Living high on happiness
The world’s largest concentration of centenarians can be found in the region of Barbaglia, located in the Sardinian mountain area in Italy. They don’t just grow old and wait for their time to go, but instead, they live every bit of their lives in good company, laughter, love and bliss. It’s their attitude that is believed to be the secret of why Sardinian men enjoy the longest male lifespan in the world. Apart from that, there’s also the fact that they share some good quality wine among themselves – moderate consumption of wine is said to be one of the most revered longevity secrets. They’re also blessed with fresh air (and we mean really fresh, unpolluted mountain air), which we’re guessing may add a good few years to one’s life due to the absence of poisonous fumes and chemicals found in lower lands, particularly towns and cities.
Like most other Blue Zone diets, the Sardinians’ also do not include much meat, and it’s said that the consumption of any kind of meat is usually reserved for Sundays or special occasions. They mainly eat whole-grain bread, beans, garden vegetables, fruits, and, in some parts of the island, mastic oil. Sardinians also traditionally eat pecorino cheese made from grass-fed sheep, whose cheese is high in omega-3 fatty acids.
Nicoya Peninsula (Costa Rica): Where family, love and laughter keeps ‘em young
Although the Caribbean nation of Nicoya is geographically quite close to the US, it is way ahead of Americans and the rest of the world in terms of longevity. It is said that the people there have a common motto, which is to have a ‘plan de vida’, or reason to live. This gives them a purpose in life and makes them feel needed. They place utmost importance to family closeness, from the very young to the very old. Nicoyans take pride in their daily chores and keep active well into their old age. Like the Okinawans of Japan, they are also known to bask in the sunshine.
Nicoyans drink calcium-rich hard water, which may hold the secret to the low rates of heart diseases as well as bone issues. They are known to eat a light, early dinner and their traditional diet of fortified maize and beans may be the best nutritional combination for longevity.
Ikaria (Greece): Secrets for a long, sweet life
In Ikaria, a Greek island in the far east of the Mediterranean, one out of three people live past their nineties. They also seem to have lower rates of cancer and heart disease, suffer significantly less depression and dementia, maintain a sex life into old age and remain physically active well into their 90s. A typical Ikarian diet consists of a whole lot of beans and locally grown or wild greens. They do not consume much meat or refined sugar. They’re also particularly fond of potatoes and goat’s milk. Ikarians drink a lot of herb tea – mint or sage – and small quantities of coffee. Their daily calorie consumption is not high, which could be an important clue to their outstanding health.
Ikaria is an isolated island, and in the villages in the north, where the highest longevity rates have been recorded, life is largely unaffected by the westernised way of living, e.g fast foods, a hundred and one electronic gadgets, inactivity, etc. Nearly everyone grows their own food and many produce their own wine – Ikarians are known to enjoy a glass or two of red wine with their meals. Another thing most of them have in common is, they all take afternoon naps!
