Moais are a powerful social tradition that create feelings of belonging, purpose and security. Most people in this area never move. Near the fishing village of Tambor (reached by a 20-minute flight from San Jos or a drive down from the Paquera ferry) is Costa Ricas first all-inclusive. Healthy and supportive relationships with friends and family are another one of their keys to longevity. For the first time ever, the world's most prominent researchers shared their knowledge and most recent research on the topic of Blue Zones. Ministry of Health data indicate that life expectancy is nearly 80 years, which is the highest in Central America, according to the World Bank. Centenarian Dietary Secrets - The Weston A. Price Foundation Nearby is the Barra Honda National Park with its caves, the Monte Alto Nature Reserve where a variety of orchids grow, and other natural reserves where you can see wildlife. There are other blue zones in California, Italy, Greece, and Japan. A research team is currently researching the . "Year after year, our surveys indicate that its the Costa Ricans themselves that set our destination apart, and it's certainly always a marvelous experience to spend time with the older generation. Alternatively, Blue. Full of natural beauty, endless sunlight, white beaches and radiant ocean, Nicoya reigns as one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica. Results were also shared from the research carried out by the demographer Luis Rosero and Dr. Elizabeth Lopez, both from Costa Rica, who made significant contributions on the subject of healthy longevity. Costa Rica Experts 2023. Nicoya honey - Blue Zones Nicoya A Blue Zone is the name given to one of the areas in the world where a majority of people have a life expectancy of at least 100 years old. San Jose, Costa Rica 10104. They embrace the relaxed Pura Vida lifestyle and family always comes first. By TCRN STAFF October 5, 2022 528 0 Where are the world's Blue Zones located? This healthy breakfast gives them the nutrients they need for a day of tending crops and livestock. For just over 15 years he has been monitoring and accompanying the long-lived people that . Your best bet might be finding a VRBO instead of a hotel. According to Buettner's studies, the Nicoya Peninsula has the world's lowest rates of middle-age mortality and the second highest convergence of male centenarians. Guest Writer for Wake Up World. Costa Rica Retreat Center in the Blue Zone - Soltara The World Meeting of Blue Zones laid the groundwork, in a spirit of s se puede (yes we can), envisioning a blue Costa Rica, following the example of healthy habits set by more than 900 inhabitants aged 90 or older, and the centenarians of Nicoya Peninsula. Contents1 Is Costa Rica considered [] But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. People often consider the impact of global decisions on future generations through legislation. In other words, people in these zones to live longer than any other areas in the world. The sustainable and equitable promotion of the long-living population of seniors and the establishment of a cultural agenda aimed at strengthening sustainable, rural, community tourism stood out among the commitments made. - save 10% Plus other perks . "Looking beyond Costa Ricas Blue Zone in Nicoya, elements that make our population stand out and that describe our focus on well-being can be found in every corner of our territory. Of course, there is still a desire for success (especially in the cities) but in general, the priorities are shifted. Actually, it is home. You can design your own holistic retreat too, choosing from a Kirtan sound bath, detox program, cacao ceremony, blue clay treatment, drum circles, and more. Each region has its own diet, types of exercise, and community structure, but each has specific elements in common - all starting with a sense of purpose. Located in northwestern Costa Rica, near the border with Nicaragua, Playas del Coco which is more commonly called Cocois a beach town, popular with both expats and Costa Ricans. For more information read our privacy policy. You may opt-out by. Costa Rica is known for its pura vida lifestyle and attitude. What Is The Potential Of Generative AI In Healthcare? We have a full guide to the ferry here. The forest here is more tropical than further north and is home to deer, pacas, monkeys, armadillos, laughing gulls, pelicans, frigates, and brown boobies. For those who want to explore the peninsula at their own pace, renting a car might be best (you can use your home countrys drivers license for a maximum of three months). If you want to get underground, Barra Honda National Park has a system of 42 caves and you can explore Terciopelo Cave on a tour. Plantains are high in potassium, fiber, carbohydrates, vitamin B6 and vitamin C. The waters around the Nicoya Peninsula are also home to several species of fish including tuna and red snapper. They are places where people get around by walking more than by car, they eat more plants than meat, and a diet that includes beans or grains such as corn, where the family is their number one purpose. March 2nd, 2023. They eat many fruits and vegetables often grown on their own lands, and they tend not to consume much meat. Blue Zone is a term created by author Dan Buettner, building off of research by demographers Michel Poulain, Ph.D., and Giovanni Pes, Ph.D. These factors are present, to some degree, in the other four Blue Zones in the world, according to world experts who participated in the World Meeting in Nicoya in mid-November. Why is Costa Rica one of the Happiest, Healthiest Places - Blue Zones The Blue Zones - Wonderlust So why is it that the people of Nicoya outlive so many others? The Peninsula is covered by spectacular beaches that host nature's best. The Nicoya Peninsula has five cantons where middle-age morality is lowest and centenarians are the most abundant. Oftentimes, this helps maintain healthy and supportive relationships within their communities, and develop a strong sense of faith and purpose along the way. Nicoyans attribute much of their longevity to social values of faith and family. Its about 75 miles long and 35 miles wide, with the northern section a part of Guanacaste province and the southern section in Puntarenas province. Costa Rica indeed does celebrate its elderly citizens; every person who has a 100 th birthday is . To my delight, Costa Rica has its own Blue Zone - the Nicoya Peninsula! Nicoya, Costa Rica, is a Central American Caribbean nation that boasts economic security and excellent health care. Meaning, family ties are strong. I suggest visiting Cabuya (a small town between Montezuma and Santa Teresa) or San Francisco de Coyote (a remote beach town). The five blue zones are: Loma Linda, California; Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan; Ikaria, Greece; and the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica. Poor communities are notorious for living in food deserts. In other words, Nicoyans receive a healthy dose of vitamins in their daily diet. Costa Rica's Blue Zones He then went on release a book The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who Have Lived the Longest in 2008. For those that don't know, there are a few communities around the globe where people live long and healthy lives, up to and past 100, dubbed "blue zones." howler and white face monkeys, red variegated squirrels, sloths, anteaters, raccoon-like coatis, butterflies, plus some 900 bird species including the fiery-billed aracari toucan and the rufous-tailed hummingbird. My fourth investigation into exactly what our Blue Zone folks eat has left this dietitian, well, intrigued. The five known Blue Zones identified in Buettner's book include:. Also, we would love to hear your thoughts on Blue Zones and what constitutes a long lifestyle. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with a host of problems, such as osteoporosis and heart disease, but regular, smart sun exposure (about 15 minutes on the legs and arms) can help supplement your diet and make sure youre getting enough of this vital nutrient. However, Costa Rica's blue zone is so much more. What to Incorporate Into Your Diet to Eat Like a 100 Year Old Nicoyan It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. We know that the diet here is different than that of the rest of the country, and that the character of the people here is unique in the world. There are many factors that go into the long life of Nicoyans, and some of them will be impossible for you to replicate (unless you plan to move to an area of the world where the sun is always shining, the nature is amazing, and then you also need to bring all of your family with you). This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Dan Buettner is really the man behind Blue Zones, so I suggest you start your interest with him. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. The people of Nicoya value their families a lot, and you can often see them joking with their neighbors, working hard for long hours, and enjoying the sunshine. He added that "we must somehow emulate, duplicate or copy the lifestyle of centenarians, and their way of living, but above all, their environment, diet, activity; above all, the connections they make, human connections, not technological ones. Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica: Researchers found that the probability of becoming a centenarian for a 60-year-old man residing in Nicoya is 4.8%, which was even more than double that of Okinawa, the second highest in the comparison, and it was almost seven times that of Sardinia and Japan (6). Nicoyans regularly take in the sunshine, which helps their bodies produce vitamin D for strong bones and healthy body function. Lane cites the impact of COVID-19 on minorities like Blacks and Hispanics throughout Chicago. Maintaining close ties with family and friends helps reduce stress. Reporter Dan Buettner closed by saying "it is a great honor to see the results of the idea of researching the issue of longevity that emerged fifteen years ago is coming to fruition in the meeting of the major scientific researchers on the subject of Blue Zones." We're going to focus on the last one, mostly because it hits close to home. Sign up for theBLUE ZONES free weekly email where webring youexclusive interviews, cutting edge longevity news, and fresh tips for living longer, better. So, having extra-hard water may help keep Nicoyans' hearts strong, and longer. Nicoyan centenarians frequently visit with neighbors, and they tend to live with families and children or grandchildren who provide support, as well as a sense of purpose. If you would like to be near things but get a bit more of a feel for traditional Nicoya life while also enjoying a bit of the touristy perks (surfing, fun restaurants etc.) obesity, or heart disease. The Nicoya Peninsula has several on offer, including near Tamarindo, outside the Cabo Blanco Reserve near Playa Mal Pais, and above the Montezuma waterfall. Loma Linda, California. This Central American nation isn't that far from the U.S. geographically, but it is way ahead of us in longevity. A blue zone is a geographical area in which the population is the longest-lived. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. El propsito de la compaa es promover y crear conciencia sobre el consumo de productos de alta calidad, con valor nutricional y . I have been exploring the data reported by National Geographic and Dan Buettner in the Blue Zones Solution: .