People who live these 5 idyllic places live longer than others

Ikaria, Greece

Buettner says that people from Ikaria are ‘almost completely free of dementia’ and that one in three reaches their 90s. Their diet is a variation of the Mediterranean diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, potatoes and olive oil, which they have supplemented with herbal tea, milk from goats and a daily afternoon nap.

The Blue Zones team thinks we can learn a lot from these habits if we want to live longer. Ikaria is known for its traditional parties, authentic tavernas, spectacular scenery and beautiful beaches with cozy hotels, Mirror writes.

Loma Linda, California

In society Loma Linda, about 9,000 Adventists make up the core of the US Blue Zone. According to Buettner’s book ‘Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From The People Who’ve Lived The Longest’ residents in this area live up to 10 years longer than the average American.

Their lifestyle includes a predominantly vegetarian diet, regular physical activity and abstinence from smoking and alcohol. The Sabbath of 24 hours each week also helps reduce stress and strengthen social ties.

« Adventists with a healthy BMI who are physically active and eat only little or no meat, have lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol and fewer cardiovascular disease than heavier Americans with higher BMI, » the book reads.

Sardinia, Italy

A number of villages in Sardinia constituted the first Blue Zone region that Buettner identified, and the area has almost 10 times as many hundreds of years per year. per capita as the United States.

The traditional sardine diet consists of whole grain bread, beans, vegetables, fruit and goat’s milk – as well as moderate intake of wine, which according to Buettner can help reduce stress among men.

The book emphasizes that strong family values ​​also contribute to long life, as people ‘in strong, healthy families have a lower incidence of depression, suicide and stress’.

« Going five miles a day or more, as Sardinian shepherds do, provides all the cardiovascular benefits you can expect, and also has a positive effect on muscles and bones – without the strain on the joints that marathon or triathlon races provide, » it says.

Okinawa, Japan

People in Okinawa are known for their long life and have a lower incidence of cancer, heart disease and dementia than Americans. Buettner’s book points out that women in Okinawa live longer than any other group of women in the world.

Their predominantly plant -based diet is nutritious and low in calorie and consists primarily of sweet potatoes, fried vegetables and tofu.

Many of Okinawa’s hundreds of people practice gardening, which both acts as exercise and gives access to fresh vegetables. In addition, regular outdoor activity ensures that they ‘maintain optimal levels of vitamin D throughout the year’ as stated in the book.

Nicoya, Costa Rica

The Nicoya Peninsula, a charming 130 kilometer long area just south of Nicaragua, enjoys rich sunlight and terrain with beautiful beaches.

The locals drink water with the highest concentration of calcium throughout the Costa Rica – a possible cause of their low occurrence of heart disease and stronger bones.

The hundreds of Nicoya typically follow a traditional meso American diet that is rich in pumpkin, corn and beans. They also eat dinner early and light.

Sunshine that promotes the formation of vitamin D, and a life full of physical work – which creates ‘joy in the physical tasks of everyday life’ – are key elements of their lifestyle, according to Buettner.