Top longevity foods from around the world
It seems people are always on the hunt for that magic bullet to help them become healthier and happier. My years of research and travel to identify the five Blue Zones regions (longevity hot spots around the world) has shown me that there is no magic supplement or superfood cure-all.
Eating like the world’s healthiest people is not just about one dish or ingredient. Instead, it’s about your diet and lifestyle as a whole. Here’s a taste of what all the Blue Zones regions have in common in terms of what they put on their plates. People in all Blue Zones regions:
- Eat mostly plants, and center their diet around beans, whole grains, vegetables, and fruits.
- Eat about one cup of beans per day.
- Eat mostly unprocessed foods.
- Eat the smallest meal of the day in the evening.
- Drink coffee and alcohol moderately and regularly.
- And, they stop eating when 80 percent full.
In Ikaria, Greece, black eyed peas, lentils, chickpeas, fresh herbs, lemons, and wild greens are staples.
In Sardinia, Italy, fennel, sourdough bread, fava beans, tomatoes, chickpeas and wine from Grenache grapes are the mainstays of the traditional diet.
VEGGIE PITA WITH FAVA-PISTACHIO HUMMUS
In Loma Linda, CA, a Blue Zones regions in America, the population is largely Seventh Day Adventist and vegetarian. Their staple foods include oatmeal, beans, whole wheat bread, avocados, and vegetables.
In the Nicoya peninsula of Costa Rica, the “three sisters” of Meso-American cooking are beans, corn, and squash. Year-round tropical fruit like papayas, bananas, pineapples, and mangoes are also everyday foods.
In Okinawa, Japan, centenarians spent a lifetime eating sea vegetables, sweet potato, turmeric, rice, tofu, bitter melons, garlic, green tea, and mushrooms.
Enjoy!
Dan and the Blue Zones Meal Planner Team