August 11, 2015
There are a few places across the globe where centenarians seem to thrive—Greece, Japan, Sardinia, California, and Costa Rica are a few. Researchers have been looking into what each of these “Blue Zones” have in common, and it turns out, much of the trends come down to diet. As Americans all too familiar with greasy fast food diets, let’s take a closer look at what’s working to increase longevity in each of these regions:
- Ikaria, Greece: Known as “The Island Where People Forget to Die,” Ikaria’s dietary staples include feta cheese, wild greens, potatoes, goats’ milk, legumes, honey, lemons, herbs, and small amounts of fish.
- Okinawa, Japan: With the highest ratio of centenarians worldwide, their longevity-promoting diets include tofu, brown rice, bitter melons, mushrooms, green tea and garlic.
- Sardinia, Italy: Boasting an unusually high percentage of centenarian men, this area’s longevity may be a result of a shepherding lifestyle, with a shepherd’s diet to match: goat’s milk, sheep’s cheese, fennel, chickpeas, almonds, tomatoes, wine and milk thistle tea.
- Loma Linda, California: A particular religious community makes the grade through a “Biblical” diet of fruits, vegetables, grains, and nuts, and drinking lots of water. Dietary choices specifically promoting longevity include beans, oatmeal, salmon, soy milk, and whole wheat bread.
- Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica: Corn, squash and beans, along with bananas, peach palms, papayas and yams top the list of staples for this Meso-American culture.
To learn more, check out The Blue Zones, authored by Dan Buettner of National Geographic.
Check out Continuum’s resources for senior nutrition here. You can count on the senior care experts at Continuum to keep you aware of updates as we learn of them, and also to provide the highest level of in-home care in the St. Louis and St. Charles areas. With flexible services tailored to your family’s specific needs, we’re there for you every step of the way, from as little as two hours a day to full time, around-the-clock care. Download our home care services brochure to learn more, or call us any time at 314-863-9912 or 636-861-3336.