The distinguished list included pioneering researchers on this subject: Michel Poulain of Belgium, Dr. Gianni Mario Pes and Paolo Francalacci from Sardinia, Italy, Christina Chrysochoou from Icaria, Greece, Makoto Suzuki from Okinawa, Japan, Gina Siapco from Loma Linda, USA, and Diego Bernardini from Argentina. Contents1 Is Costa Rica considered [] Successful centenarians have a strong sense of purpose. Within Nosaras lush forest and a three-minute walk to Guiones Beach, this small hotel has a daily yoga class plus private yoga instruction, surf lessons, a large pool, hammocks, and a juice and coffee bar. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Nicoya was introduced as a Blue Zone in a 2004 National Geographic article by Dan Buettner. 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. Cities throughout the world can use this template to encourage people to live healthier lives. We know we should include exercise into all parts of our lives (not just an hour at the gym). Swimming holes dot the peninsula too, including beneath the Montezuma waterfall. 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. Nicoya. 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). Famous for its gorgeous Pacific Coast beaches and well known for its surfing, wellness, yoga, and vibrant sunsets, the Nicoya peninsula is a paradise for the mind, body, and soul. WED LOVE IF YOUD ADD IT ON PINTEREST! Fish is a lean protein and provides oils which help with overall brain function. This healthy breakfast gives them the nutrients they need for a day of tending crops and livestock. Brand Storytelling At Sundance: Championing Excellence And Filmmakers With Purpose, Profitable ECommerce Growth For CPGs Is In Reach. It is the reason why the founder of Omega Institute set up Blue Spirit in Nosara and a Longevity center. While walking gives Nicoyans a chance to exercise and get fresh air, it also gives them time to enjoy the natural beauty for which Nicoya is known. Get some sensible sun. Nicoyans eat a light dinner early in the evening. In other words, people in these zones to live longer than any other areas in the world. The information and example set by the inhabitants of the Blue Zone of Nicoya are highly valuable, and some of the life habits can be emulated, planting a blue seed throughout the country. There are 5 Blue Zones around the world, one of which is located on the Nicoya Peninsula; the others on the list are Sardinia in Italy, Okinawa in Japan, Loma Linda in the United States, and Icaria, in Greece. 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. My fourth investigation into exactly what our Blue Zone folks eat has left this dietitian, well, intrigued. I suggest visiting Cabuya (a small town between Montezuma and Santa Teresa) or San Francisco de Coyote (a remote beach town). Learn more about typical diet with our Guide to Costa Rican Food. The traditional diet in the area is also notable. Most people in this area never move. The reason why they are called "blue zones" is a curious story This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Feel free to leave them in the comment section below. Costa Rica is generally a healthy country because its government decided that education, healthcare, and protecting the environment are more important than funding its armed forces and it abolished its army in 1948. Nicoya, Costa Rica. The climate in the Blue Zone is very mild, which may help to protect against diseases. Old people often have too little calcium in their bodies. By TCRN STAFF October 5, 2022 528 0 The five known Blue Zones identified in Buettner's book include:. 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. It definitely runs contrary to what was written up about the Nicoya people in "The Blue Zones." In that book, their diet was characterized as primarily vegetarian. This has paid off, with Costa Rica frequently scoring high in world happiness and environmental rankings. Barra Honda is on the peninsulas northeast about a half hours drive from the town of Nicoya. Blessed with sandy beaches and tropical forest, it's something of a backpackers' paradise. Costa Rica Experts Wins 2022 Tripadvisor Travelers Choice Award, Where to Find Black Sand Beaches in Costa Rica, Best Time to Visit Costa Rica: What to Expect Month by Month, 11 Travel Mistakes To Avoid Before Your Trip, 8 Costa Rica Natural Mysteries You Have to See to Believe, 5 Common Misconceptions About Travel in Costa Rica, 10 Top Costa Rica Honeymoon Bungalows & Suites, 3 Costa Rica Hotels Made The Travel & Leisure Top 100 in the World List, Costa Rica Expert Interview with Aaron Daker: top destinations, new hotels, & best months to travel. The Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica is one of the five areas in the world that hold the distinguished classification of a Blue Zone. He worked with several notable anthropolgists, dieticians, historians, and geneticists to identify and further understand what contributes to a long lifespan. Are We Headed To A World In Which We Own Nothing? These areas are: Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan; Loma Linda, California; Nicoya, Costa Rica; and Ikaria, Greece. 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. Read more below about the lessons that Nicoya, Costa Rica can teach you about longevity. The chance to do yoga in an open-air pavilion on the beach is not to be missed! Everywhere you go in Costa Rica, youll hear pura vida! and soon feel the freedom to adopt the pura vida lifestyle yourself. The Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica is one of the five areas in the world that hold the distinguished classification of a Blue Zone. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Adapting our lifestyles wherever we live to healthier practices such as intermittent fasting, walkability, exploring plant-based gastronomy, and low glycemic index food intake sound like your everyday doctors recipe for a healthy life, says Cedeno-Molinari. They know how to listen, laugh, and appreciate what they have. Nicoya isn't full of marathon runners . Get your fill of fresh fruits like pineapple, mango, papaya, banana, and passionfruit and vegetables and legumes like squash, cassava, plantain, yam, and beans. This treasure includes the atmosphere around you." Thanks to the peninsulas reputation as one of these Blue Zones, Nicoya has become a haven for digital detox. Not long after, he began to lead trips to the first Blue Zones that he had discovered. As of now, there are 5 blue zones: Icaria, Greece. It is believed that one factor which may contribute to the high number of Nicoyan centenarians is the high calcium content in the water. Nicoya is famous for being a marvelous playground for surfers all over the world. They have groups of friend with whom they share healthy habits.". Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Meat, fish, and poultry only make up 5% of the usual diet. The Adventists are praying. The international attendees also included Dan Buettner, a reporter and researcher for National Geographic, who has been responsible for popularizing the concept of Blue Zones through the publication of various articles and best-selling books that explore the direct connection between this issue and diet, spirituality, purpose in life and physical exercise, with happiness as a cross-cutting element. 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. Complex carbs provide the energy a person needs to get through the day. The concept of Blue Zones came from a series of demographic and statistical projects led by Gianni Pes and Michel Poulain, but they were made famous worldwide by the research work of journalist Dan Buettner, along with a team from National Geographic and the publication of his book, The Blue Zones. The world has a number of 'Blue Zones', areas where the locals live healthier and longer lives. For the first time ever, the world's most prominent researchers shared their knowledge and most recent research on the topic of Blue Zones. Go to a soda, thats the name of a small, local caf, and look for casado this popular dish is rice and beans served with vegetables and either fish or meat. I mean, how can you not be happy when the average daily temperature is 85 degrees fahrenheit, you can easily get to the beach or jungle, and youre surrounded by an abundance of nature and wildlife? You may opt-out by. We met in Virginia, moved to Germany, and now live in sunny Costa Rica. For Priscila Chaves, a Costa Rican social tech-entrepreneur and ethics thought leader, the question that still stands is, how can we translate these apparent otherworldly effects, to the rest of us? If we can harness that, we can hopefully improve the health of future generations. It includes the five cantons of the Nicoya Peninsula: Hojancha, Nandayure, Carrillo, Santa Cruz and Nicoya. It helps them remain positive. In these areas people have low rates of chronic diseases, so they tend to live longer than in other places. It is not unusual for many generations to live on one property or in very close proximity to each other. The centenarians of the Nicoya Peninsula have also captured the interest of the Institute of Social Studies in Population (Instituto de Estudios Sociales en Poblacin, IDESPO) of the National University (Universidad Nacional) of Costa Rica, which is carrying out a study on the subject this year. Also, the environment just exudes joy. 1 - The Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica. Costa Rica Experts 2023. They embrace the relaxed Pura Vida lifestyle and family always comes first. We're going to focus on the last one, mostly because it hits close to home. Centenarians seem to have enjoyed physical work of all their lives. Its very interesting, and I mean, who doesnt love a good TED Talk? What are Blue Zones? They feel needed, and their daily lives revolve around their family and community. Theyre focused on sick care, and so the actual healthcare is often neglected, says Chaves. These commitments also included mechanisms to develop best practices in health promotion in the "five blue cantons" of the Peninsula, strengthening support networks, and incentivizing the recuperation of life lessons and traditions. Costa Rica is home to one of the five original blue zones regions, the Nicoya peninsula, with a high number of centenarians in excellent health. There are five areas of the world that meet the qualifications of Blue Zone as defined by Buettner. Join our newsletter for exclusive features, tips, giveaways! Hi! These include Nicoya, Costa Rica; Loma Linda, California; Ikaria, Greece . 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. On the peninsulas southeast coast is Tambor, with Nicoyas most southerly airport. Rare species like pumas, ocelots, and margay cats make their home here too. There will be a lot to learn and a lot to do to get back to a healthier normal. 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. For just over 15 years he has been monitoring and accompanying the long-lived people that . The term "Blue Zone" was first used in a 2005 National Geographic cover story entitled "The Secret of Long Life" written by a man named Dan Buettner. By Ty and Charlene Bollinger. Wildlife is abundant. For those who might need some meal ideas, Dan Buettner, wrote the Blue Zones Kitchen cookbook. There are two trails for visitors and a pristine white sand beach. While we may not increase the average life expectancy throughout the world we can use Nicoya as a template for healthier living. All rights reserved. Surprisingly, happiness and keeping a focus on family are two of the main components. When on vacation in Costa Rica, its also easy to pick up Blue Zone habits like getting regular outdoor exercise and a good nights sleep (though be sure to go to bed early if you want to do your sun salutations at actual sunrise). Their traditional diet of fortified maize and beans may be the best nutritional combination for longevity the world has ever known. That's why this part of Costa Rica is designated a Blue Zone, the term used for just five areas of the world where people live extraordinarily long and vibrant lives. He has written numerous books on the topic, but I suggest starting with: Blue Zones of Happiness and The Blue Zones Kitchen (a cookbook). For example, we know that Nicoya is the driest part of Costa Rica, that it used to be part of Nicaragua, and that more Indians intermarried with the Spanish who began settling here in 1510. Also on offer are boat trips to the volcanic Tortuga Islands, where snorkelers might spot angelfish and porcupine fish, and theres a chance of seeing dolphins, manta and spotted eagle rays, and turtles on the way. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Long-living creatures like sea turtles are frequent visitors to the Blue Zone too. This trend has been here for many years, but I was the one to notice this special feature in the data," said Bixby, a pioneer in longevity research. What are Blue Zones? According to researchers, most inhabitants live to at least the age of 90. They feel needed and want to contribute to a greater good. Meanwhile, last year the average individual from the United States ate 222.2 pounds of meat and poultry. Ministry of Health data indicate that life expectancy is nearly 80 years, which is the highest in Central America, according to the World Bank. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Throughout Costa Rica, youll find vegetarian gallo pinto (rice and beans) served at breakfast, lunch, and dinner the name means spotted rooster because the black beans dot the rice. In parallel, the ICT has drawn attention to the concept of the Blue Zone as part of its wellness tourism strategy as a distinctive feature in promoting the destination, while the Ministry of Culture and Youth has identified the long-lived inhabitants as bearers of a tradition which they can contribute to recovering for future generations. They find joy in everyday physical chores. Are you interested in learning more about the Costa Rica Blue Zone and other zones of the world? Santa Teresa is great for surfing and enjoying a small but vibrant town with a backpacker vibe. Nicoya, Costa Rica, is a Central American Caribbean nation that boasts economic security and excellent health care. Predominantly catering to families, this 402-room property has four restaurants, including for surf and turf and Japanese, two pools, a nightclub, and a 200-seat amphitheater. Thanks to the peninsula's reputation as one of these Blue Zones, Nicoya has become a haven for digital detox. Eco-tourism is a natural must in this out-of-this-world scenario, where everything that happens is in a quiet, lovely pace. Full of natural beauty, endless sunlight, white beaches and radiant ocean, Nicoya reigns as one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica. Now, visiting Nicoya doesnt mean youll automatically live to 100, but a trip there is likely to put you on the path to pure life thanks to its natural environment and abundance of healthy activities. Blue Zones Nicoya naci en 2014, una empresa 100% costarricense, que durante los ltimos 6 aos ha sido destacada por la investigacin de alimentos locales de la Zona Azul de Nicoya-Guanacaste. mobile app. You can hike along trails, go horseback riding, kayak through the mangroves, and swim off the beach. These geographical areas are considered special, because most people live at least 90 and often over 100 years of age. Costa Rica is one of the few tropical countries where its safe to drink tap water even for foreigners and theres no need to buy plastic water bottles. It is also one of the world's Blue Zones. The proper mindset about longevity is not about aspiring to live to a very old age, but to enjoy the best quality of life possible during the last ten years we live, says Alvaro Cedeno-Molinari, a former Costa Rican diplomat and ambassador who works intensely promoting bioliteracy, regeneration, and well-being as holistic healthy mindsets. None of these staples are processed, and because all of these foods are locally grown they are not faced with genetically modified or pesticide laden produce. The forest here is more tropical than further north and is home to deer, pacas, monkeys, armadillos, laughing gulls, pelicans, frigates, and brown boobies. Going down the west coast from Tamarindo youll find several beach towns, most notably yoga center Nosara and surfers paradise Santa Teresa.