There are corners of the world where people are regularly living past 100 years, places where there are so few cases of heart disease or dementia that they’re almost non-existent. These parts of the globe hold some of the most valuable secrets to longevity, and because of recent research, we now have access to these secrets for our own lives as well.
These longevity secret-holders are known as the Blue Zones-five regions of the world with the highest concentrations of centenarians and supercentenarians. They include Nicoya in Costa Rica, Sardinia in Italy, Ikaria in Greece, Loma Linda in California, and Okinawa in Japan.
The Blue Zones practice daily eating, drinking, exercising, and spiritual practices that help them live long, healthy lives. Continue reading to learn about the drinking habits that keep the longest-living people healthy. And for more healthy aging tips, check out The Best Eating Habits of the Longest Living People.
Nicoya, which is located off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, contains a secret to longevity that the other Blue Zones don’t have. The water in Nicoya is rich in calcium, and according to ABC News, it has so much calcium that five liters a day would provide you with your daily calcium requirement.
This means that they’re not only staying hydrated on a daily basis, but they’re also naturally getting an important mineral every time they drink a glass of water.
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According to research published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, all of the Blue Zones drink wine on a regular basis, except for the Adventists of Loma Linda, California.
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Sardinians drink a specific type of wine called Cannonau wine. This wine is said to have over twice as many flavonoids as other types of red wine, which are phytochemicals that have heart-healthy benefits.
One of the things that many Blue Zone centenarians have in common is that they incorporate tea into their daily diet. For example, according to a National Geographic article covering the Blue Zones, Okinawans drink green tea on a daily basis.
Green tea has been found to have many different health benefits, which can all contribute to a long, healthy life. It’s full of catechins, which are a type of flavonoid known to help fight free radicals, lower the risk of some cancers, and help to reduce the risk of heart disease.
The Blue Zone regions place value on community and spending plenty of time with friends and family, which is one of the factors that researchers believe keeps these people living such long, healthy lives.
For example, Okinawans often have a Moai, which is a close group of people that eat, drink, and live life together. In Sardinia, Italy, people spend time with their family and neighbors on a regular basis, and they often share meals and wine together. In Nicoya, Costa Rica, they practice an open-door policy with their community and often share food and drinks together, too.
Many people in Okinawa still practice the art of sitting on the floor for many of their daily activities. They oftentimes eat, socialize, read, and drink tea on the floor, which is one of the habits that keep them healthy!
According to the Blue Zones’ official website, sitting on the floor and standing up “exercises their legs, back, and core in a natural way as they get up and down all day long. Sitting on the floor also improves posture and increases overall strength, flexibility, and mobility.”
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